The Atlanta Falcons are out here making moves, hitting the workout circuit hard on Tuesday with three players hoping to snag a spot. They are looking to fill two active roster spots and one practice squad vacancy right now, and one of the names that popped up is a former second-round pick who could bring some serious fire to their defensive line.
The Drake Jackson Story: Comeback Kid?
Let’s talk about linebacker Drake Jackson first, because this dude’s story is something else. The San Francisco 49ers drafted him with the 61st pick back in 2022, which tells you the kind of talent he’s got. In his first two seasons, Jackson put up 21 tackles, 12 of them solo, six sacks, and even grabbed an interception. That’s solid production, right? But then 2024 hit, and he missed the *entire* season due to injury. He spent 2025 with the Washington Commanders, but now he’s trying to make a comeback in Atlanta. If he can get back to that 2022-2023 form, the Falcons’ pass rush could get a serious shot in the arm. You gotta wonder if he’s healthy and ready to go; that kind of talent doesn’t just disappear.
The Other Contenders and Atlanta’s Roster Shuffle
Besides Jackson, the Falcons also brought in center Gus Hartwig and cornerback Dwight McGlothern. Hartwig, an undrafted guy out of Purdue, has never actually seen NFL game action but spent his first two seasons with the New York Jets. He got a short stint with the Detroit Lions in August but was released pretty quick. McGlothern is a big corner, 6-foot-2, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He played sparingly in 15 games over the last two seasons, but that size and versatility could make him an interesting depth piece for Atlanta. You can never have too many DBs.
These tryouts come at a crucial time for the Falcons, who currently have one open roster spot. But get this: they’re about to open up another because defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand is expected to hit injured reserve with a quad injury, effectively ending his season. Plus, the Cowboys poached running back Tyler Goodson off their practice squad Tuesday, so that’s another vacancy to fill. With Week 2 looming, they need to act fast.
What’s next for the Dirty Birds? We gotta check back Wednesday morning for all the roster news and updates straight from head coach Kevin Stefanski. These moves show the Falcons are serious about plugging holes and getting this roster right, right now.
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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