The Atlanta Falcons got their season back on track by defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7, but there's still plenty of work to do before this team can feel good about its trajectory. The next step is consistency, which is something the Falcons haven't been able to find in the post-Matt Ryan era.
With a win over the NFC South-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8, Atlanta would improve to 4-4 on the season and be back at .500 with nine games left to play. If you consider the fact that the team didn't have starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the first two weeks, the future is truly starting to look bright.
Having said that, the Falcons must take care of business against the Bucs or it will be back to business as usual in the NFC South.
The two division rivals have played some compelling games over the last few years. However, Tampa Bay is playing with the appropriate level of desperation for a team that started 0-4.
The Buccaneers have won two out of their last three games, and are coming off of a dominant 43-13 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. Mind you, this is the same Panthers team that defeated Atlanta by 31 points in Week 2.
As we look at the Falcons roster going into Week 8, they seem to be trending in the right direction health-wise. Cornerback A.J. Terrell made his return from the injured reserve list in Week 7, plus edge rusher James Pearce will be back in Week 9 once his suspension ends.
Wide receiver Beaux Collins and offensive lineman Cameron Williams have both been designated to return but remain on the injured reserve list. We'll see if they end up back on the roster this week.
Check out the Falcons' updated 53-man roster and practice squad ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Buccaneers.
Quarterbacks (4)
- Michael Penix Jr. (9)
- Tua Tagovailoa (1)
- Andy Dalton (13)
- Jack Strand (18)
Running Backs (2)
- Bijan Robinson (7)
- Brian Robinson Jr. (15)
Wide Receivers (5)
- Drake London (5)
- Jahan Dotson (4)
- Olamide Zaccheaus (14)
- Zachariah Branch (17)
- Chris Blair (19)
Tight Ends (4)
- Kyle Pitts (8)
- Austin Hooper (81)
- Charlie Woerner (89)
- Nick Muse (87)
Offensive Linemen (8)
- Jake Matthews (70)
- Matthew Bergeron (65)
- Ryan Neuzil (64)
- Chris Lindstrom (63)
- Jawaan Taylor (71)
- Ethan Onianwa (75)
- Kyle Hinton (68)
- Corey Levin (62)
Defensive Linemen (10)
- Gervon Dexter (95)
- Brandon Dorlus (54)
- Maason Smith(92)
- Samson Ebukam (52)
- LaCale London (94)
- Za'Darius Smith (55)
- Cameron Thomas (99)
- Zach Harrison (96)
- Charles Snowden (47)
- Drake Jackson (91)
Linebackers (6)
- Divine Deablo (0)
- Kendal Daniels (53)
- Harold Perkins Jr. (56)
- Christian Harris (45)
- Josh Woods (42)
- Jared Ivey (51)
Defensive Backs (11)
- A.J. Terrell (24)
- Avieon Terrell (12)
- Mike Hughes (21)
- Billy Bowman Jr. (33)
- C.J. Henderson (26)
- Mike Ford Jr. (28)
- Jessie Bates III (3)
- Xavier Watts (31)
- DeMarcco Hellams (23)
- Sydney Brown (29)
- Robert Longerbeam (37)
Special Teams (3)
- LS: Liam McCullough (49)
- K: Nick Folk (6)
- P: Jake Bailey (16)
Falcons practice squad
- WR Vinny Anthony (86)
- OL Kam Dewberry (61)
- WR Dylan Drummond (80)
- DB Darnay Holmes (30)
- OT Riley Mahlman (76)
- TE E.J. Jenkins (84)
- WR Antwane Wells (82)
- OL Josh Thompson (67)
- DL Zacch Pickens (93)
- RB Khalil Herbert (25)
- OL Colby Sorsdal (74)
- LB Brian Asamoah (41)
- RB Jam Miller (38)
- S Jammie Robinson (34)
- LB T.J. Quinn (43)
Reserve Lists
- OT Michael Jerrell (Reserve/Injured)
- Da'Shawn Hand (Reserve/Injured)
- LB Yasir Abdullah (Reserve/Injured)
- EDGE James Pearce Jr. (suspended)
- WR Beaux Collins (Reserve/Injured) DTR
- OT Storm Norton (Reserve/PUP)
- LB DeAngelo Malone (Reserve/PUP)
- DE Keshawn Banks (Reserve/Injured)
- LB JD Bertrand (Reserve/Injured)
- LB Jalon Walker (Reserve/Injured)
- RB Trey Sermon (Reserve/Injured)
- DT Anterio Thompson (Reserve/NFI)
- OT Cameron Williams (Reserve/Injured) DTR
Sunday's game starts at 1 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. It will be Michael Penix Jr.'s first time playing in his hometown.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons 53-man roster, practice squad entering Week 8 vs. Bucs
