Josh Simon didn’t make Atlanta’s initial 53-man roster, but he didn’t stay on the market for long.
The former Falcons tight end has signed with the Washington Commanders’ practice squad, officially joining former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn’s team on Tuesday. It’s a quick landing spot for a player who put together a solid preseason case in Atlanta, even if it wasn’t enough to crack the roster.
Simon showed enough in exhibition play to stay in the conversation. He caught two passes for 29 receiving yards in the preseason opener against the Broncos, then added one more catch for 21 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in the second preseason game. Atlanta kept only three tight ends, leaving Simon on the outside looking in.
That outcome was a bit of a surprise, especially since Simon offers value in two spots: as a pass-catcher and as a run-blocker. He looked like a candidate to return to Atlanta’s practice squad, but instead he’ll get his next shot in Washington, where there’s at least a path to eventually pushing for a 53-man roster spot.
Simon was one of three former Falcons to find practice-squad homes on Tuesday. Running back Nathan Carter signed with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad, and defensive tackle Chris Williams landed with the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.
Atlanta still has one practice squad opening to fill. The team worked out veteran edge Khalid Kareem on Tuesday, and Zach Harrison could also remain an option for the Falcons.
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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 🡒]