The Falcons’ offseason turnover has made for a busy first month around the league, and Week 4 gave a clearer picture of how several former Atlanta players are settling into new homes. Some are thriving, some are fading fast, and one of them looked like he turned back the clock.
Kirk Cousins was the headliner. The 38-year-old quarterback has helped push the Las Vegas Raiders to a 3-0 start, and in their 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he kept rolling anyway.
Cousins went 31 of 52 for 365 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, though he was hit as he threw the final play of the game. His touchdown connection with Brock Bowers showed off movement Atlanta never really got from him, and he’s now tied with Brock Purdy for the league lead in touchdown passes.
Tyler Allgeier also had a solid outing, even if his path in Arizona hasn’t been what he hoped for. The Cardinals brought in Jeremiyah Love with the third pick in the 2026 NFL Draft shortly after Allgeier signed, and his workload had dipped in recent weeks.
But in Arizona’s 36-24 loss to the New York Giants, Allgeier carried eight times for 42 yards and a touchdown, including a 22-yard score. He also stayed on the field for most of the final drive after Love tweaked his ankle, and Love’s high-ankle sprain could open the door for more work.
Kaden Elliss never got his shot at the long-awaited revenge game. A calf injury kept him out of the New Orleans Saints’ Week 4 loss to Atlanta, and without him, New Orleans got steamrolled on the ground. Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. combined for more than 200 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the Falcons’ 45-24 win at the Superdome.
Dee Alford’s move to Buffalo hasn’t produced much traction. In the Bills’ 29-26 loss to the New England Patriots, he played a season-low 24 snaps and managed one pass breakup, but that was about the extent of his impact. Through the first month, Pro Football Focus has him graded as a bottom-10 cornerback in both overall grade and coverage grade.
Elijah Wilkinson had the roughest day of the bunch. Against the Giants, the Arizona tackle spent most of his time lined up against Abdul Carter and allowed a season-high five pressures and three quarterback hits in what PFF tagged as a 30.9 pass blocking grade, the worst among qualified tackles. Paris Johnson Jr. being out for the year only makes that situation tougher.
Ruke Orhorhoro continued to show some progress in Jacksonville. In the Jaguars’ 22-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, he followed up last week’s three-pressure effort with two more pressures and added a stop. He’s still having issues against the run, but the improvement is there.
Arnold Ebiketie remains stuck in neutral in Philadelphia. He got his first pressure of the season in the Eagles’ 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but he also has two missed tackles on the year. Through the first month, he owns a 46.4 pass rush grade, which ranks as the worst among NFL EDGE rushers.
In Other News...
Matt Ryan's Falcons Role Has Rival Teams Paying Attention
Matt Ryan has wasted little time making himself visible in his new role as the Falcons president of football. Since taking the job this offseason, he has been around training camp and games, signaling that his return to the organization is more than ceremonial and that he is already immersed in the day-to-day work of helping shape the franchises direction.
Around the league, that kind of hands-on involvement is drawing notice. Some insiders sound more intrigued by Ryans singular focus on rebuilding Atlanta than they do by Tom Bradys dual role with the Raiders, and that contrast has only sharpened the conversation about how much influence Ryan could end up having on the Falcons future. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons May Have Found Avieon Terrells Best Role Already
Avieon Terrell has spent his first month in the NFL showing the kind of versatility that makes coaches lean in. The Falcons second-round pick has lined up both at nickel and on the outside, giving Atlanta a look at how quickly he can handle different responsibilities in the secondary while he settles into the league.
Lately, the trend has pointed more clearly toward the boundary. Terrells snaps outside have increased, including a game against the Saints in which he played 35 of 36 snaps there, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has suggested that his long-term home is expected to be on the edge. Even with that direction taking shape, Terrell still brings the flexibility to move inside when Atlanta needs it. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Are Finally Getting The Respect This Start Demands
After an 0-2 start, the Falcons have spent the last two weeks looking more like the team they expected to be, and that uptick is starting to show up beyond the building. Colin Cowherd slid Atlanta to No. 8 in his Week 5 Herd Hierarchy, pointing to the growth of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as a major reason the team is suddenly getting more national attention.
Penix has started the Falcons' last two games, completing 73 percent of his passes with a 113 passer rating, and Atlanta has turned those performances into consecutive wins. The offense has looked sharper under head coach Kevin Stefanski, and now the challenge gets tougher with the Ravens on deck, a matchup that should say plenty about whether this early surge is the start of something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]