Falcons release depth chart for Week 1 matchup with Steelers

After naming Tua Tagovailoa the starting quarterback for their Week 1 matchup with the Steelers, the Falcons have just dropped the entire depth chart.

Falcons Week 1 Depth Chart

Quarterbacks 

• Tua Tagovailoa — QB1
• Cooper Rush — QB2
• Jack Strand — QB3
• Michael Penix Jr. — QB4 (Will Be Inactive)

Running Backs

• Bijan Robinson — RB1
• Brian Robinson Jr. — RB2

Wide Receivers

• Drake London — WR1 (Starter)
• Jahan Dotson — WR2 (Starter)
• Olamide Zaccheaus — WR3 (Starter)
• Zachariah Branch — WR4
• Chris Blair — WR5

Tight Ends

• Kyle Pitts — TE1 (Starter)
• Charlie Woerner — TE2 (Starter)
• Austin Hooper — TE3

Left Tackle 

• Jake Matthews — LT1
• Michael Jerrell — LT2
• Cameron Williams — LT3

Left Guard 

• Matthew Bergeron — LG1
• Kyle Hinton — LG2

Center 

• Ryan Neuzil — C1
• Corey Levin — C2

Right Guard 

• Chris Lindstrom — RG1

Right Tackle 

• Jawaan Taylor — RT1
• Michael Jerrell — RT2
• Ethan Onianwa — RT3

Defensive End

• Cameron Thomas — Starter
• Brandon Dorlus — Starter
• Za’Darius Smith — Backup
• Samson Ebukam — Backup
• Yasir Abdullah — Reserve
• Jared Ivey — Reserve

Defensive Tackle

• Maason Smith — Starter
• LaCale London — Starter
• Gervon Dexter Sr. — Backup
• Da’Shawn Hand — Backup

Linebacker

• Divine Deablo — Starter
• Kendal Daniels — Starter
• Harold Perkins Jr. — Backup
• Christian Harris — Backup
• Josh Woods — Reserve

Cornerback

• A.J. Terrell — CB1
• Mike Hughes — CB2
• Avieon Terrell — Nickel (Starter)
• C.J. Henderson — Backup
• Billy Bowman Jr. — Backup
• Mike Ford Jr. — Backup
• Malcom Dewalt IV — Reserve

Safety 

• Jessie Bates III — Starter
• Xavier Watts — Starter
• DeMarcco Hellams — Backup
• Sydney Brown — Backup

Special Teams 

• Nick Folk — K
• Jake Bailey — P
• Liam McCullough — LS

—

The Falcons didn’t reinvent the wheel here. Almost all of these were expected, but the one pleasant surprise is the decision to name rookie Kendal Daniels a starter immediately out of the gate. He’ll get the bulk of the reps next to Divine Deablo at inside linebacker, and if the preseason is any indication, Daniels could end up being the best story of the entire season.

Another Falcons rookie, second-round selection Avieon Terrell, is also in line to get the nod for Week 1, which means he will be sharing the secondary with his brother A.J. Terrell.

Much like the pass rush was a beaming bright light of positivity for the Falcons a year ago, the secondary could be the same for the team this season. It’s a really quality mix of elite talent, veteran experience, and high draft picks with immense upside. If the Falcons defense turns out being much better than the rest of the league might expect, the secondary is going to have a big hand in that development.

One rookie who is a bit further down the depth chart than some might have expected is Zachariah Branch. He’s listed as the backup to Olamide Zaccheaus, but given the Falcons are only carrying five receivers, I expect him to get some touches early on in the season. The explosive aspect he can bring to this offense should earn him a lot of playing time.

Back to the defensive side, you might notice Gervon Dexter Sr. and Za’Darius Smith are both listed as backups at their respective positions. However, I would expect them to get a lot of run this Sunday. The defensive line is always a highly rotational group that will see a lot of different faces in and out of the game. I wouldn’t put a lot of weight into where they are on the Week 1 depth chart.

—

(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)