The Kansas City Chiefs added a familiar name to their practice squad on Tuesday, as former Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter found a new landing spot after not sticking on the Falcons’ 53-man roster.
Carter came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State and signed with Atlanta after the 2025 NFL Draft. He made the roster out of training camp, then played in seven games last season. On offense, he carried the ball nine times for 60 yards, while his bigger role came on special teams.
That versatility, especially his kick-return ability, gives Carter a path to keep climbing in Kansas City. The second-year back also flashed enough promise for Andy Reid to try to unlock something more there, even if a few costly mistakes in the 2026 preseason likely worked against him when Atlanta made its cuts.
The Falcons, meanwhile, kept only two running backs on their 53-man roster, a move that left some people scratching their heads. Tyler Goodson, a veteran who had clearly done enough in camp, was let go at the deadline despite making a strong case to be Atlanta’s third back. He even outplayed Brian Robinson Jr. in the preseason and, by that showing, could have been in the conversation for the No. 2 job behind Bijan Robinson.
Atlanta’s roster decisions got even more puzzling with the team carrying four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster.
There’s still time for things to shift, though. Atlanta has nearly two weeks before its season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Plan May Already Be Telling Fans Everything About Penix
The Falcons quarterback picture is already carrying more intrigue than most teams would want this early, and Michael Penix Jr. remains at the center of it. According to NFL Networks Cameron Wolfe, Atlanta intends to get a real look at Penix at some point so it can better evaluate him ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft, even if Tua Tagovailoa opens the season against the Steelers. For a team that has spent the offseason trying to settle its future under center, that plan says plenty about how seriously the Falcons are weighing their long-term options.
Penixs path back is also being handled with care after the ACL injury he suffered in 2025, which could shape how the early-season rotation unfolds. Atlanta has not decided who will start in 2026, and both Penix and Tagovailoa remain in the conversation, so the next few months may be less about one game than about how the organization maps out its quarterback timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Took A Risk Up Front They Could Regret Fast
The Falcons defensive front has been in flux, and the latest roster shuffle showed just how thin the margin can get. General manager Ian Cunningham said waiving Zach Harrison to make room for three waiver claims was a difficult decision, a reminder that Atlanta is trying to patch together depth while injuries and suspensions continue to hit the group up front.
Harrison did not stay away long, returning to the Falcons on the practice squad, where his presence still matters for a line trying to hold together through the turbulence. Even without a spot on the active roster, he gives Atlanta veteran leadership and another body to lean on, which makes the original move look less like a clean cut and more like a risk the team may have to manage all over again. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Practice Squad Move May Be Hinting At Another O-Line Decision
With Kyle Hinton and Kam Dewberry both dealing with injuries, the Falcons added another body to the interior offensive line mix by signing Josh Thompson to the practice squad. Thompson, an undrafted free agent out of LSU, spent the summer with the Kansas City Chiefs and now steps into one of Atlantas remaining practice squad openings as the team tries to keep some depth around a position group that has already been tested.
The move is straightforward on its face, but it also naturally raises questions about what comes next for the Falcons up front. Practice squad additions are often about coverage and contingency, and with guard depth suddenly thin, this one feels like it could be tied to a short-term roster adjustment if the injuries linger. For now, though, Atlanta is simply making sure it has another interior lineman available while the picture sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]