The Falcons' kicking rollercoaster took another turn in Week 3 with John Parker Romo missing both of his attempts in Sunday's loss to the Panthers. Granted, those kicks came from 49 and 55 yards, so Atlanta may have some patience after signing Romo to a two-year contract last week. The Falcons still brought in some potential competition in Sauls, an undrafted rookie who spent training camp with the Steelers and made five of his six field goals in the preseason.
Football training practices without pads are viewed as unengaging and less authentic experiences by both players like tight end George Kittle and coach Kyle Shanahan. Coach Shanahan specifically expressed his discomfort with non-padded practices, emphasizing the importance of pads for safety and preparation for actual gameplay. He mentioned the need for patience during this phase, hoping to ease into a productive practice session by the time pads are introduced after four designated days without them, in adherence to the NFLPA collective bargaining agreement.
"Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances. Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker," Ravens GM Eric DeCosta stated.