The Atlanta Falcons kept tweaking their roster Tuesday morning, adding another tight end while trimming two players as they continue shaping the 90-man camp group before Friday night’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos.
Their latest addition is former Minnesota Vikings tight end Nick Muse. To make room, the Falcons waived undrafted free agent wide receiver Le'Meke Brockington and linebacker Malik Verdon.
Muse entered the league as a seventh-round pick by the Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. He spent three seasons in Columbia, where his best year came in 2020 with 30 catches for 425 yards and a touchdown.
In three seasons with Minnesota, Muse appeared in 16 games and mostly worked on special teams. He finished 2023 with one catch for 22 yards.
Over the past year, he’s bounced through practice squads with the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and LA Rams.
The move fits the way Atlanta is building out its tight end room. New head coach Kevin Stefanski has said he wants to use some three-tight-end looks, and the Falcons already have three players who look firmly positioned for the roster in Kyle Pitts Sr., Austin Hooper, and Charlie Woerner. Behind them, Joshua Simon and Jack Velling are the other tight ends in camp, though neither has clearly separated enough to look safe for the 53-man roster.
That makes Muse a logical depth add, with the possibility that Atlanta could stash two tight ends on the practice squad and rotate game-day elevations if it wants a fourth body available on Sundays.
Brockington’s departure comes after the Falcons signed him as an undrafted free agent, but he never did enough to stand out in a crowded receiver group. Atlanta’s top four at the position appear set with Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Zachariah Branch.
Beyond that, Chris Blair has been the most noticeable receiver and could get a boost from his work on special teams as he competes with Dylan Drummond and/or Cash Jones for what may be the fifth spot. If Atlanta keeps six receivers, Jones has the kind of versatility that can help him win the job, with the ability to line up in the slot, play running back, and contribute on special teams.
The Falcons open preseason play Friday night against Denver, and roster decisions will keep coming before cutdowns on August 30th. Players such as Muse, Simon, and Velling are all still fighting to get onto the initial 53.
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For the Falcons, the concern is less about whether the situation will linger and more about how long it might last once the league makes its call. Atlanta is reportedly bracing for a significant absence for Pearce Jr., and the uncertainty around the final ruling leaves the team planning for life without a player it expected to count on right away. [Read more 🡒]