The Atlanta Falcons are in the thick of a playoff push, but one issue continues to drag them down week after week - the wide receiver room. With Drake London sidelined due to injury, the Falcons have been forced to dig deep into their depth chart, and the results haven’t exactly inspired confidence.
Darnell Mooney has stepped up as the de facto WR1, but beyond him, it's been a revolving door of underwhelming options. That lack of depth came into sharp focus during Atlanta’s Week 13 loss to the Jets, when head coach Raheem Morris made some eyebrow-raising decisions regarding his active game-day roster.
Morris opted to deactivate both Casey Washington and special teams standout KhaDarel Hodge, instead promoting practice squad receivers Dylan Drummond and Deven Thompkins. The move raised questions, especially given the fact that both Washington and Hodge had previously played meaningful snaps - and in Hodge’s case, had been a Pro Bowl-level contributor on special teams.
When asked about the call, Morris pointed to performance in practice as the deciding factor - a standard explanation, but one that still left many wondering why two experienced contributors were left on the sideline in a game that could’ve used their skill sets.
Let’s be clear: the Falcons’ special teams unit had a rough outing against the Jets, giving up 10 points directly off miscues. That’s an area where Hodge, one of the league’s better special teams players last season, could have made a real difference. His absence was felt, and it’s hard to argue otherwise.
Washington’s situation is equally puzzling. Earlier in the season, he was logging real snaps on offense, showing flashes of promise.
Now, he’s been a healthy scratch two weeks in a row. That’s a quick fall from grace for a young receiver who was trending in the right direction not long ago.
To be fair, Drummond has shown some promise in limited action. He made a few plays that caught the attention of quarterback Kirk Cousins, who’s been vocal in his support.
That kind of endorsement carries weight, especially from a veteran QB who’s trying to build chemistry with a new group of targets. Drummond earning a spot on the active roster makes sense.
But the inclusion of Thompkins over more proven options like Hodge or Washington? That’s harder to justify.
Then there’s the curious case of K.J. Osborn.
The former Viking was signed just days before the Jets game, and while he wasn’t elevated for Week 13, it’s expected he’ll be active for the upcoming matchup against the Seahawks. Given his familiarity with Cousins from their time in Minnesota, Osborn could be a valuable plug-and-play option as the Falcons try to stabilize the position group.
As for Jamal Agnew, his struggles on Sunday didn’t help his case. A few costly mistakes have likely put his roster spot in jeopardy, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Falcons move on from him in the coming days.
The bigger issue, though, is the overall handling of the receiver room. It’s been a bit of a carousel, with players shuffled in and out based on factors that aren’t always clear.
Morris has shown a willingness to experiment, which can be a good thing - especially when trying to find a spark. But at this point in the season, with playoff implications on the line, the Falcons need more than just experimentation.
They need consistency.
Right now, outside of London, no one has truly locked down a role. That’s a tough spot to be in for an offense that’s trying to find rhythm, especially with a veteran quarterback like Cousins under center. The Falcons don’t need superstars to emerge overnight, but they do need a reliable supporting cast - and that starts with making the most of the talent already on the roster.
Whether it’s Washington, Hodge, Osborn, or someone else, Atlanta has options. The challenge now is identifying the right mix - and sticking with it long enough to build some continuity. Because if the Falcons want to stay in the hunt, they’ll need more than just Drake London to carry the load.