Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 27, 2015 21:46:53 GMT
Banged up at safety, Falcons bring back Charles Godfrey again
The Atlanta Falcons, who seem likely to be without starting strong safety William Moore this week as he recovers from a groin strain, once again re-signed veteran safety Charles Godfrey on Tuesday.
Godfrey, who was released last week after the team signed linebacker Philip Wheeler, took the roster spot of linebacker Allen Bradford, who was released Tuesday. Bradford was inactive for this past Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. The presence of Nathan Stupar, along with the addition of Wheeler, probably sealed Bradford's fate despite his hard-hitting style.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Moore, along with wide receiver Leonard Hankerson (hamstring), won't practice Wednesday. There's a chance both Moore and Hankerson could miss multiple games, meaning the Falcons will need depth at both safety and wide receiver.
Ricardo Allen and Kemal Ishmael are likely to make up the starting safety tandem if Moore is unavailable, though undrafted rookie Robenson Therezie opened the coaches' eyes with his game-sealing interception versus the Titans and is sure to see time on the field as well. Godfrey simply gives the team a veteran presence at safety, with Allen, Ishmael, and Therezie all rather inexperienced.
Hankerson appears to be day to day with his hamstring. If he can't go Sunday against Tampa Bay, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Falcons activate rookie wide receiver Justin Hardy for the first time this season. The team already is without wide receiver/return specialist Devin Hester, who was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return (Dec. 6) as a result of turf toe.
Also Tuesday, the Falcons added running back Gus Johnson and wide receiver Devon Wylie to the practice squad. To make room for Johnson and Wylie, they waived linebacker Derek Akunne and running back Juhwan Edwards from the practice squad.
Godfrey, 5-11, 210 pounds, was originally selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (67th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Iowa. He was originally signed by the Falcons as a free agent on October 28, 2014 after spending six-plus seasons in Carolina.
Johnson, 5-10, 215 pounds was signed by the Cowboys as a college free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft out of Stephen F. Austin. He spent part of the 2015 season on the Cowboys practice squad.
Wylie, 5-9, 187 pounds was originally selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. He played in six games for the Chiefs in 2012. He was then signed by the Tennessee Titans in 2013 and played two games for the team. Wylie spent part of the 2014 season as a member of the St. Louis Rams practice squad.
Akunne, 6-0, 242 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft out of North Texas.
Bradford, 5- 11, 235 pounds was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft as a running back out of the University of Southern California. He was signed by the Falcons on February 2, 2015.
Edwards, 5-9, 220 pounds was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as a college free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft out of Ball State.
The Atlanta Falcons, who seem likely to be without starting strong safety William Moore this week as he recovers from a groin strain, once again re-signed veteran safety Charles Godfrey on Tuesday.
Godfrey, who was released last week after the team signed linebacker Philip Wheeler, took the roster spot of linebacker Allen Bradford, who was released Tuesday. Bradford was inactive for this past Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans. The presence of Nathan Stupar, along with the addition of Wheeler, probably sealed Bradford's fate despite his hard-hitting style.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Moore, along with wide receiver Leonard Hankerson (hamstring), won't practice Wednesday. There's a chance both Moore and Hankerson could miss multiple games, meaning the Falcons will need depth at both safety and wide receiver.
Ricardo Allen and Kemal Ishmael are likely to make up the starting safety tandem if Moore is unavailable, though undrafted rookie Robenson Therezie opened the coaches' eyes with his game-sealing interception versus the Titans and is sure to see time on the field as well. Godfrey simply gives the team a veteran presence at safety, with Allen, Ishmael, and Therezie all rather inexperienced.
Hankerson appears to be day to day with his hamstring. If he can't go Sunday against Tampa Bay, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Falcons activate rookie wide receiver Justin Hardy for the first time this season. The team already is without wide receiver/return specialist Devin Hester, who was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return (Dec. 6) as a result of turf toe.
Also Tuesday, the Falcons added running back Gus Johnson and wide receiver Devon Wylie to the practice squad. To make room for Johnson and Wylie, they waived linebacker Derek Akunne and running back Juhwan Edwards from the practice squad.
Godfrey, 5-11, 210 pounds, was originally selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (67th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Iowa. He was originally signed by the Falcons as a free agent on October 28, 2014 after spending six-plus seasons in Carolina.
Johnson, 5-10, 215 pounds was signed by the Cowboys as a college free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft out of Stephen F. Austin. He spent part of the 2015 season on the Cowboys practice squad.
Wylie, 5-9, 187 pounds was originally selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. He played in six games for the Chiefs in 2012. He was then signed by the Tennessee Titans in 2013 and played two games for the team. Wylie spent part of the 2014 season as a member of the St. Louis Rams practice squad.
Akunne, 6-0, 242 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft out of North Texas.
Bradford, 5- 11, 235 pounds was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft as a running back out of the University of Southern California. He was signed by the Falcons on February 2, 2015.
Edwards, 5-9, 220 pounds was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as a college free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft out of Ball State.
