Tyler Goodson arrived in Atlanta as a name in the mix for the Falcons’ RB3 job. A few weeks later, he looks like the player everyone else is chasing.
Out of 90 players on the Falcons’ summer roster, Goodson may have helped his case more than anyone. Atlanta brought him in to compete with Nate Carter and Cash Jones for the third running back spot, and he’s clearly separated himself from that group.
Goodson has been exactly the kind of offseason standout teams hope to uncover, only he’s done it with more force than expected. He kept showing up in training camp, then turned in especially strong work during the two joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts. That stretch pushed him from possible roster filler to someone who now looks hard to leave off the final group.
Carter and Jones haven’t really slowed him down, and that’s part of the story. One came into camp with a reputation as a training camp darling from last year and more time in the building.
The other arrived as a high-upside UDFA. Even so, it’s the free-agent pickup who has made the strongest impression on the staff.
The preseason only strengthened that case. In Atlanta’s second preseason game against the Colts, Goodson got the start and delivered six carries for 59 yards and a long touchdown run. His 6.7 yards per carry ranks third among NFL running backs this preseason, which is a pretty good way to cap off a summer that has gone almost perfectly for him.
That 49-yard touchdown run was the kind of play that sticks. It’s the third-longest run of the preseason, and it had the Falcons bench fired up around him. But Goodson’s value hasn’t been limited to offense.
Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman said that after the play, Goodson immediately went up to him and said he was going back in to play kickoff coverage. That kind of approach matters to this coaching staff, and it’s another reason Goodson has kept climbing.
He’s also been used as one of Atlanta’s starting kick returners, listed alongside Brian Robinson Jr. Goodson has returned two kicks for 67 yards in preseason, adding another layer to his résumé at exactly the right time.
With training camp over, the preseason finale complete and the roster cut deadline set for tomorrow afternoon, Goodson’s lead over Carter and Jones has grown into something that feels overwhelming. What started as a fight for a roster spot now looks like a near certainty: Tyler Goodson is on track to be the Falcons’ RB3 in Week 1.
In Other News...
Tua Just Added More Heat To Atlantas Unsettled QB Battle
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Falcons Quarterback Decision Comes With A Game-Day Roster Cost
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For Atlanta, the bigger issue is not just who is in the quarterback room, but what that decision costs elsewhere on game day. Carrying extra depth at the sports most important position can squeeze the rest of the roster, and it leaves the Falcons balancing immediate flexibility against the need to keep enough help available at other spots. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Week 1 QB Call May Come Down To One Concern
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Penixs health has become the central issue in the competition, and there is at least some belief that he could be the starter if he proves fully healthy. For Atlanta, it is a decision that goes beyond Septembers opener, because the next step depends on whether Penix can handle the demands of practice without any setbacks. [Read more 🡒]