Who makes the cut? Let's discuss.

Tori McElhaney

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. I have been doing 53-man rosters for many years now. And in all my years doing so I can't recall having a more difficult time nailing down a 53-man roster prediction.

I think my troubles are twofold.

For starters, there are some key injuries to significant pieces of the rosters, and I don't have enough information on to know if they'll be ready to go Week 1. I am talking about Darnell Mooney (shoulder), Troy Andersen (knee, PUP), Storm Norton (lower body), Clark Phillips III (rib) and Carlos Washington Jr. (hamstring), just to name a few.

Secondarily, the competition among players in position groups with a high-carry rate on the 53-man think receiver, defensive line, defensive back is a little too close to call right now. With two preseason games still left to play (one of which we'll see this evening), I think there are more than enough opportunities for players to emerge and establish themselves a spot on the roster.

But here is my first crack at the 53-man roster. Be on the lookout for Terrin Waack and Will McFadden's predictions coming at a later date.

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks (3)

Michael Penix Jr. | Kirk Cousins | Easton Stick

After his performance against the Detroit Lions last Friday night, there was no way I am leaving Stick off this roster to get poached by another team. Absolutely not if you still consider a world in which the Falcons view Cousins as a tradeable asset down the road. I'm just saying... if that comes to pass, you'll need a true backup. Stick showed last Friday he can be that if the need arises.

Running backs (2)

Bijan Robinson | Tyler Allgeier

Tough cut: Carlos Washington Jr.

I am doing something in this 53-man roster projection that I have never done before: I am listing out who my tough cuts are. And Washington is the first listed. Now, is there a way for him back on the 53-man? Absolutely. But at this point in time, considering we haven't seen him because of a hamstring injury, I couldn't find it in me to take a spot away from someone else in order to keep him on the roster.

Wide receivers (6)

Drake London | Darnell Mooney | Ray-Ray McCloud | KhaDarel Hodge | Casey Washington | Jamal Agnew

Tough cut: David Sills V

Like Washington, Sills is another candidate for placement on the 53-man roster as moves to the practice squad and injuries are taken into account. He's been getting a notable amount of looks with Penix and the first-team offense throughout the last week. Whether it be in London's spot or alongside London in a "big" receiver set, Sills has been one of the training camp standouts. You always like to award those guys if you can. As for players like Chris Blair, Dylan Drummond, Nick Nash, Jesse Matthews, I don't think we've seen the last of them, either. It wouldn't surprise me if the Falcons end up carrying a few receivers on the practice squad.

Something else we have to keep in mind? Mooney's shoulder injury. If he is not ready to go Week 1, or even beyond that? That will absolutely move things around.

Tight ends (3)

Kyle Pitts | Charlie Woerner | Teagan Quitoriano

Tough cut: Feleipe Franks

Someone can correct me if I am wrong here, but I think every time Franks is an option to keep on this roster I have chosen not to... and yet he's consistently found his way onto the actual initial roster. I say all of that to say this: When it comes to Franks, he always seems to find a way.

Offensive line (8)

Jake Matthews | Matthew Bergeron | Ryan Neuzil | Chris Lindstrom | Kaleb McGary | Storm Norton | Elijah Wilkinson | Jovaughn Gwyn

Tough cut(s): Kyle Hinton, Jack Nelson

The injury severity to Norton and how little I know about it makes my decision with this group difficult. When asked about Norton's status on Aug. 13, head coach Raheem Morris said that "hopefully" Norton is coming along and "hopefully" he'll be back. But ultimately?

"I don't know," Morris said.

That leaves us in a projection predicament. I have Norton on the 53-man for the time being, but I don't count out the idea of Norton having to go on injured reserve, opening a spot up for someone like Nelson to get back on the roster. Remember, before a team can place someone on the regular season IR list, they must first be present on the 53-man roster. Do I know this for a fact that this is something the Falcons will do with Norton? No. I don't know because, well, Morris doesn't know the timeline for Norton's return. But considering we haven't seen Norton practice in a couple weeks, I am just trying to read the tea leaves.

DEFENSE

Interior defensive line (8)

David Onyemata | Ruke Orhorhoro | Zach Harrison | Brandon Dorlus | Ta'Quon Graham | LaCale London | Morgan Fox | Kentavius Street

I'll tell you what: Nate Ollie and his rotation of this group has tied my hands. He's rotating guys to such a degree that I could not in good conscious cut anyone. That's right, even Simeon Barrow Jr., who I don't have making this 53-man roster, I have on the practice squad. So, it didn't even feel like a true tough cut to me. Based on the scheme, the Falcons have to carry a lot of defensive linemen. It's just that simple.

Edge rusher (5)

Leonard Floyd | Arnold Ebiketie | James Pearce Jr. | Jalon Walker | Bralen Trice

Tough cut: Khalid Kareem

I don't think this is the last we'll see of Kareem. I think he has done some really good things for this team throughout training camp. Like Barrow, I think Kareem is absolutely a practice squad guy. That is, if he can get past some other teams on the lookout for pass rush depth, which to be honest? He may be difficult for the Falcons to fly under the radar long enough to stash him on the practice squad.

Inside linebackers (5)

Kaden Elliss | Divine Deablo | JD Bertrand | DeAngelo Malone | Troy Andersen

Andersen is the difficult code to crack right now. We know based on PUP rules that if Andersen is activated off of it by the end of the preseason then he must miss at least four games. However, I don't believe that means he is on IR. He would be on the active roster, just not available. That said, if the Falcons activate him off PUP and then put him on IR, then that's another four games thereafter the point of which he is designated to return.

I know, complicated.

So, you might as well put an asterisk beside Andersen's name. We have a long way to go before truly knowing what his 2025 season will hold.

Cornerbacks (6)

A.J. Terrell | Mike Hughes | Dee Alford | Billy Bowman Jr. | Natrone Brooks | Mike Ford

Tough cut(s): Clark Phillips III | C.J. Henderson

Cutting Phillips was by far the most difficult cut of the entire 53-man roster. Do I think it will actually happen? Debatable. But truly, who was I going to take off the roster in order to put Phillips on? Brooks has played his way onto this roster in my opinion. He deserves a spot. Mike Ford? We know he is an asset on special teams along with getting some reps at nickel. And because of Phillips' rib injury and the unfortunate timing of it, we just haven't seen him enough.

As for Henderson, the Falcons signing him this week is intriguing. But I haven't seen him in a Falcons uniform yet. How could I put him on the 53-man roster without having seen him work a single rep? That's crazy talk.

Safety (4)

Jessie Bates III | Xavier Watts | Jordan Fuller | DeMarcco Hellams

I have nothing to really add here. This feels like it has been preordained since Day 1 of training camp. Its just a matter of who starts alongside Bates that's the question, not who finds their way onto the roster.

Special teams (3)

Kicker: Younghoe koo | Punter: Bradley Pinion | Long snapper: Liam McCullough

The international player program selection does not count towards the 53-man roster. So, go ahead and add a spot for Lenny Kreig.

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