No matter how deep you think the unit might be on paper, NFL teams can literally never have too many quality edge rushers. The Atlanta Falcons are getting a reminder of that fact the hard way this season.
Already missing Jalon Walker for the year due to a torn ACL in training camp, the Falcons also will be without James Pearce Jr. for the first eight games of the season as he serves out the suspension handed down from the league office. That leaves Atlanta without its two projected starters on the edge, forcing them to scramble and bring Za'Darius Smith out of retirement.
The Falcons aren't entirely without talent at this spot, though. According to Pro Football Focus, edge Keshawn Banks was the team's highest-graded player during the preseason.
"Banks was a really effective pass-rusher over the first two games of the preseason for Atlanta, racking up seven total pressures from 25 pass-rushing snaps to earn an 86.9 PFF grade. He was also solid as a run defender, producing a 79.2 PFF run-defense grade."
Banks might have wound up making the team's initial 53-man roster, especially with former third-rounder Bralen Trice being among the roster cuts announced on Sunday evening.
However, Banks also wound up on the cut list with a the waived/injured designation. We have no report yet on the nature of Banks' injury and it's listed as undisclosed by the Falcons.
If it's not major or season-ending, we may see Banks rejoin the team later on as part of the practice squad.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: PFF names Falcons' highest-graded preseason player
