Carlos Allen Jr., that undrafted rookie out of Houston, absolutely exploded in Thursday’s joint practice with the Colts, making a serious case for a roster spot right when the Atlanta Falcons need it most. Our offense might not have been overly impressive in those two joint sessions, but the defense was playing lights out, and it was Allen Jr. leading the charge from the rookie crew.
Rookie Sensation Steps Up on the D-Line
Seriously, this kid! The Falcons are a bit thin at defensive tackle after David Onyemata left in free agency, which means there’s a huge opportunity for someone to step up. And Allen Jr., a six-foot, 289-pound beast, seized it with both hands during practice. Team reporter Will McFadden saw it firsthand, highlighting several “disruptive plays in a row” from the rookie. McFadden noted it was a “huge stretch for Allen Jr.” who’s usually rotating with the second- and third-team units. The guy totaled four sacks, 11.5 tackles for a loss, and three pass breakups in 25 games at Houston. If he can repeat that kind of performance on Saturday, he’s absolutely earning himself a longer look and a real shot at that 53-man roster. What a turnaround for an undrafted guy!
Preseason Grind and Uniform Reveals
We’re still shaking off that 27-7 loss in the preseason opener, but this Saturday, we get another shot to get things right. The Falcons are heading to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to face the Colts at 1 p.m. ET. Don’t expect to see any starters out there, but that just means the guys on the roster bubble get a prime opportunity to shine. Plus, after debuting those awesome red uniforms against the Broncos, we’re busting out the white road uniforms for the first time this preseason. It’ll be cool to see how they look, but honestly, all eyes are on these young guys fighting for their futures. We also made a move Friday morning, signing veteran defensive tackle Eric Johnson, a former fifth-round draft pick, to fill that last open roster spot. Every little bit helps.
Former Falcon Dee Alford Turns Heads
Look, we’ve got one of the most talented secondaries in the NFL, but we’re doing it without Dee Alford this season. The veteran defensive back signed a three-year, $15.75 million contract with the Buffalo Bills in free agency, and he’s already making waves up there. He caught Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s attention, picking off the former league MVP at a recent camp practice. Allen even called him out when asked about defensive standouts, saying Alford’s “been making a lot of plays” and has already intercepted him twice in camp. Good for him, it just shows the talent we had.
So, this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, it’s all about the roster battles. Can Carlos Allen Jr. back up his monster practice? That’s what I’m glued to, rooting for him to make that squad!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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