<img alt="Atlanta Falcons v Baltimore Ravens" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5ou6JXt_WgvCA-mR71xuZ4cEvTs=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73579594/2167450552.0.jpg">
Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Not a single rookie played a snap on offense or defense in this one. The Atlanta Falcons are a veteran football team. I’m not saying this simply because they have older, more established players—though they do—but because in the early going they’re clearly going to favor playing those guys.
Exhibit A: A Week 1 loss to the Steelers where Falcons rookies played exactly zero snaps on either offense or defense. Only JD Bertrand took special teams snaps; Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus were actually inactive.
If this class is going to have a major impact, it will come later in the year and well into the future. That’s not to say I’m down on the talent assembled—quite the contrary—but Week 1 was a wakeup call for those of us expecting any kind of real early season role for these rookies.
Let’s go into a very brief rookie report.
QB Michael Penix
The top ten pick is not expected to play this year unless Kirk Cousins is hurt or continues to play the way he did in Week 1, so his absence from this game is not a surprise.
DL Ruke Orhorhoro
At least for one week, the second round selection was on the shelf. Orhorhoro has too much promise as a run defender and pass rusher to spend the entire year marinating on the inactives list, but he’ll likely only have a small role when he is active initially.
OLB Bralen Trice
He’s on injured reserve and will miss the 2024 season, which is a shame because he would absolutely have had a role on this defense. We hope his recovery is going well.
DL Brandon Dorlus
Also an inactive, Dorlus figures to help the pass rush when he gets playing time. With a healthy, veteran line in front of him, his role will be small initially when he is activated.
LB JD Bertrand
The sole rookie to play in Week 1, Bertrand played 23 special teams snaps and had a tackle. A productive and useful special teamer in college, Betrand will dominate snaps as a core guy in that phase, though he’s likely to rarely see the field on defense this season.
RB Jase McClellan
Inactive this week, and likely inactive throughout the year. With Bijan Robinson as the clear lead back, Tyler Allgeier available, and Avery Williams active for his special teams value, McClellan just isn’t needed at the moment.
WR Casey Washington
He’ll likely find his way to a role later in the year, but Washington was inactive as well, with Chris Blair elevated from the practice squad to take some special teams snaps. If Washington becomse a player the Falcons trust on offense and special teams, a relatively thin receiver corps will open up opportunities, but an up-and-down summer made it clear he’s not there yet.
DL Zion Logue
On the practice squad, the future two-down run stopper on the interior will likely spend the season there and try to hook a roster spot in 2025.
<img alt="Atlanta Falcons v Baltimore Ravens" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5ou6JXt_WgvCA-mR71xuZ4cEvTs=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73579594/2167450552.0.jpg">
Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Not a single rookie played a snap on offense or defense in this one. The Atlanta Falcons are a veteran football team. I’m not saying this simply because they have older, more established players—though they do—but because in the early going they’re clearly going to favor playing those guys.
Exhibit A: A Week 1 loss to the Steelers where Falcons rookies played exactly zero snaps on either offense or defense. Only JD Bertrand took special teams snaps; Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus were actually inactive.
If this class is going to have a major impact, it will come later in the year and well into the future. That’s not to say I’m down on the talent assembled—quite the contrary—but Week 1 was a wakeup call for those of us expecting any kind of real early season role for these rookies.
Let’s go into a very brief rookie report.
QB Michael Penix
The top ten pick is not expected to play this year unless Kirk Cousins is hurt or continues to play the way he did in Week 1, so his absence from this game is not a surprise.
DL Ruke Orhorhoro
At least for one week, the second round selection was on the shelf. Orhorhoro has too much promise as a run defender and pass rusher to spend the entire year marinating on the inactives list, but he’ll likely only have a small role when he is active initially.
OLB Bralen Trice
He’s on injured reserve and will miss the 2024 season, which is a shame because he would absolutely have had a role on this defense. We hope his recovery is going well.
DL Brandon Dorlus
Also an inactive, Dorlus figures to help the pass rush when he gets playing time. With a healthy, veteran line in front of him, his role will be small initially when he is activated.
LB JD Bertrand
The sole rookie to play in Week 1, Bertrand played 23 special teams snaps and had a tackle. A productive and useful special teamer in college, Betrand will dominate snaps as a core guy in that phase, though he’s likely to rarely see the field on defense this season.
RB Jase McClellan
Inactive this week, and likely inactive throughout the year. With Bijan Robinson as the clear lead back, Tyler Allgeier available, and Avery Williams active for his special teams value, McClellan just isn’t needed at the moment.
WR Casey Washington
He’ll likely find his way to a role later in the year, but Washington was inactive as well, with Chris Blair elevated from the practice squad to take some special teams snaps. If Washington becomse a player the Falcons trust on offense and special teams, a relatively thin receiver corps will open up opportunities, but an up-and-down summer made it clear he’s not there yet.
DL Zion Logue
On the practice squad, the future two-down run stopper on the interior will likely spend the season there and try to hook a roster spot in 2025.
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