Getty Feleipe Franks of the Atlanta Falcons hands the ball off to Caleb Huntley.
The Atlanta Falcons called up running back Caleb Huntley to the active roster for Week 4’s Sunday matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
With Cordarrelle Patterson dealing with a knee injury, the Falcons may need some extra help in the backfield this week.
Huntley was elevated against the Rams in Week 2 where he had one target for three yards.
Falcons’ Rookie Could Be on Tap for Bigger Role
With Huntley elevated to the 53-man roster, the Falcons are set to have four running backs active vs. Cleveland: Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, Avery Williams and Huntley.
Allgeier could split carries with Patterson or take on an even more significant role in this game.
Wrt the Caleb Huntley elevation, the last time he was elevated the Falcons kept four backs up — Patterson, Allgeier, Avery Williams and Huntley.
Patterson & Allgeier split carries. Huntley got one touch.
Snaps that game: Patterson 59%, Allgeier 31%, Williams 25%, Huntley 5%
Allgeier was inactive for Atlanta’s season opener but played in Week 1 and Week 2, logging 55 yards on 16 attempts for an average of 3.4 yards per carry.
Despite seeing minimal action, head coach Arthur Smith has been overall impressed with the 2022 third-round pick’s contribution thus far,
“I’ve been pleased with a lot of those young guys,” Smith said earlier this week. “Tyler (Allgeier), Bernie (Jared Bernhardt), Frank Darby. Frank’s done a good job with the plan and I’m happy to see him out there contributing; Feleipe (Franks) a little bit. We’ve got so many young guys that are stepping up.”
Falcons Avoid Facing Cleveland’s Top Pass Rushers
The Browns will be without defensive end Myles Garrett on Sunday, who was ruled out due to a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and a right biceps strain.
The injuries came from a single-car crash that Garrett was in last Monday where he flipped his Porsche multiple times.
The three-time Pro Bowler was questionable all week, however, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Garrett’s shoulder sprain is considered “the more significant of the two injuries” and he could be affected by it for multiple weeks.
I think emotionally I’m pretty grounded with everything, I’ve put it behind me,” Garrett said on Friday, September 30. “Physically I’m still dealing with some of the injuries that came along with it but it’s really just a blur, it all happened pretty fast and sometimes, the last couple nights I’ve sat and thought about some of the different situations, scenarios, how it played out, but knowing that I can’t change the past, just got to keep moving forward and glad everyone’s all right.”
Jadeveon Clowney was also ruled out as he is still dealing with an ankle injury.
With their starting defensive ends ruled out, the Browns will be relying on rookie ends Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas, along with five-year veteran DE Isaac Rochell to fill the void. Wright has played in all three games this season for Cleveland and logged two pass breakups and four tackles. Rochell recorded four tackles in Week 3 against the Steelers while Thomas didn’t last saw the field in Week 2 against the Jets where he played nine snaps for the defense.
Cleveland will also be without starting defensive tackle Taven Bryan due to a hamstring injury.
The Browns could be in trouble with three defensive line starters out against a potent Falcons offense.