The Atlanta Falcons‘ preseason opener was cut short on Friday night after Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris suffered a worrisome head injury in the fourth quarter. The Falcons’ decision to end the game after Norris’ injury was heartwarming, but on Saturday, it was back to business for the team, as they quickly made a signing in the wake of this game.
Preseason contests offer teams an avenue to find out what some of their weak spots are. After this game, Atlanta’s front office quickly moved to sign veteran safety Ronnie Harrison to come in and help shore up their secondary, indicating that there could be a competition unfolding at this position as the month of August rolls on.
Falcons Sign Ronnie Harrison
Harrison broke into the NFL back in 2018 as a third-round pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He gradually earned a starting role with the team, and he appeared well on his way to becoming a key piece of the team’s future. Instead, he ended up getting traded to the Cleveland Browns ahead of the start of the 2020 season, where he struggled to recapture the heights he hit during his 2019 campaign.
After three years with the Browns, Harrison landed with the Indianapolis Colts, where he’s spent the past two seasons. Harrison struggled to stay on the field for the Colts, playing a combined 17 games during his time with the team, but he showcased his versatility when he was healthy, as he spent time at linebacker in addition to playing his usual safety spot.
Harrison remained unsigned until the Falcons came calling, as they wanted an extra layer of depth with undrafted rookie Malik Verdon still on the active/non-football injury list. Now, he’s got a shot to earn a depth role with the team at the safety position, although they are still pretty well-stocked at the position, even when accounting for Verdon’s absence.
Falcons are signing former Colts’ free agent safety Ronnie Harrison,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a post on X.
Ronnie Harrison Faces Long Odds to Make Falcons 53-Man Roster
GettyThe Falcons have shored up their secondary by signing former Colts safety Ronnie Harrison
Jessie Bates III and Jordan Fuller are penciled in as Atlanta’s starting safeties, with DeMarcco Hellams, Xavier Watts, Josh Thompson, and Henry Black comprising the depth chart behind them. Watts is likely a roster lock considering he was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Harrison could conceivably beat out the rest of these guys for a spot on the roster.
Of course, that’s going to be easier said than done, as Harrison is joining the fun later than everyone else, meaning the rest of the team has a leg up on him. This isn’t Harrison’s first rodeo, though, so he could prove to be a fast learner when it comes to picking up the defensive playbook. Regardless, there’s some added competition in Atlanta’s safety room moving forward, and it will be worth keeping tabs on Harrison to see if he can make a push for a roster spot.
Falcons Sign Former Colts Safety After Preseason Opener vs. Lions