The Falcons are heading into Week 4 with one clear defensive priority, but Chris Olave is only part of the problem.
Atlanta’s defense helped carry the team to its first win of the season against the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night, and it may need another strong showing on Monday Night Football in New Orleans against Tyler Shough and the Saints. Olave is the obvious headliner. He’s established himself as one of the league’s most dangerous pass-catchers through his connection with Shough, and Jeff Ulbrich will have him circled from the jump.
But stopping Olave alone won’t be enough.
Juwan Johnson has emerged as a real threat, and the Falcons can’t treat him like an afterthought. After a breakout 2025 season in which he posted career highs in catches with 77 and receiving yards with 889, he’s opened 2026 looking like he’s ready for another jump. He just turned in an eight-catch, two-touchdown performance in the Saints’ Week 3 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, and he’s quickly become a reliable safety valve for Shough, especially near the goal line.
That red-zone role matters even more with Travis Etienne unlikely to play and Alvin Kamara described as a shell fo his former self. Johnson has already stacked up 2026 production that puts him among the top tight ends in the league: only Trey McBride, Dalton Schultz, George Kittle, and Dalton Kincaid have more receiving yards, and he’s tied with Kittle for the most touchdown receptions among tight ends with three. For a converted wide receiver, he’s been a tough matchup for defenses to sort out.
The Falcons have already had some issues handling tight ends this season. They’ve allowed a touchdown to the position in two of their three games, with both Pat Freiermuth and Darren Wallen finding the end zone against them. Waller did it twice, and Johnson is likely to be even more involved than either of those players were.
That’s where the matchup gets tricky. C.J.
Henderson is expected to spend most of the night on Olave, which leaves Johnson as another problem Atlanta has to solve. He’s become Shough’s preferred target against the blitz, and he’s one of the better yards-after-catch tight ends in the league.
Still, the Falcons do have options. Their linebacker group is big enough and athletic enough to deal with No. 83, with Kendal Daniels and Divine Deablo both bringing former-safety range that can help in coverage.
Harold Perkins Jr. has also been a pleasant surprise as a coverage linebacker. Jessie Bates could get a look there too as he continues moving more into a box-safety role, but Daniels and Deablo are the likeliest answers.
The rookie has improved in coverage every week, and this kind of assignment could push his development against an emerging tight end like the former UDFA.
With NFC South implications in the mix, the assignment is bigger than just slowing Olave. If Atlanta wants to leave New Orleans with a win, keeping Juwan Johnson under wraps may matter just as much.
In Other News...
Michael Penix Jr. Just Added More Heat To Falcons-Saints Rivalry
Michael Penix Jr. is back in the mix for Atlanta after a strong showing against the Green Bay Packers, and now the Falcons quarterback has added a little more edge to a rivalry that already carries plenty of history. Ahead of Monday nights matchup with New Orleans, Penix made a critical comment about the Saints, giving an already charged NFC South meeting a little extra bite.
New Orleans comes in led by Tyler Shough and leaning on a pass-heavy offense, while Atlanta has been winning plenty of its recent battles on the ground. With Penix reasserting himself after his return and the Saints taking a different approach on offense, the setup for Monday night feels bigger than a division game, and the latest jab only makes the buildup more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Callahan Is Already Changing A Key Falcons Starter
Bill Callahan was brought to Atlanta to sharpen the Falcons edge up front, and early signs suggest the offensive line coach is already making a difference. Center Ryan Neuzil has settled in quickly since Callahans arrival, and the improvement has shown up in the kind of work the Falcons value most, with Neuzil holding up well in both pass protection and the run game.
Neuzils growth also fits the bigger picture for Atlanta, where continuity along the offensive line has helped make the transition smoother. If Callahan can keep turning that steadiness into real progress, the Falcons may have found an important piece of their offensive foundation at a position that can quietly change everything around it. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Created A Real Roster Squeeze For Josh Woods
The Falcons added another name to the linebacker mix this week, bringing in former third-round pick Brian Asamoah II to the practice squad after a tryout. Asamoah has made most of his NFL impact on special teams, which is exactly where Atlanta is looking for competition as it tries to sort out the back end of the roster and keep enough coverage units intact for the stretch run.
Josh Woods now finds himself in a tighter battle than he was a week ago. The veteran has been handling a special teams role, but the door has opened for Asamoah to push for that same job, and the situation could get even more crowded if JD Bertrand returns from injured reserve soon. [Read more 🡒]