Zachariah Branch’s first regular-season game for the Falcons didn’t show up in the box score the way anyone would have wanted. He finished Atlanta’s 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers without a catch, without a target, and with just eight routes run, according to NBC Sports.
But the rookie wideout still found a way to make his presence felt.
Branch’s clearest moment came on special teams in the second quarter, when Atlanta turned to him as its kick returner for the first time in a regular-season game. He grabbed the ball and immediately flashed the burst that helped make him the 79th overall pick, racing down the sideline for what would have been a 64-yard return and excellent field position for the Falcons.
The play never counted. A holding penalty on Josh Woods wiped it out.
Still, the return said plenty about what Branch can offer Atlanta right away. He didn’t need a designed touch on offense to show the speed that separates him from a lot of young receivers. Give him a sliver of space, and he can turn a routine special teams snap into a game-changing play.
That’s why the lack of involvement as a pass catcher shouldn’t trigger any alarms just yet. Cooper Rush was under center, and outside of Bijan Robinson, the Falcons didn’t get much going through the air. Drake London and Jahan Dotson sit ahead of Branch on the receiver depth chart, and Olamide Zaccheaus handled more traditional receiver work on Sunday.
Even so, Branch still logged one more offensive snap than Zaccheaus, and his eight routes were only three fewer than Zaccheaus ran. That’s a small detail, but it suggests Atlanta is already looking for ways to work him in while keeping his role manageable.
The Falcons’ offseason evaluation pointed toward special teams as Branch’s quickest path to impact, and his first regular-season appearance backed that up. The Georgia product was expected to be more of a developmental piece at receiver, but there’s room for that role to grow if he keeps flashing this kind of speed.
Atlanta also got an early reminder of what Branch can do beyond the kick return that was erased. He logged three punt returns for 33 yards and a 30-yard kick return, giving the Falcons a first look at a player who may not be central on offense yet, but can still change the feel of a game with one burst.
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