Atlanta Falcons make final cuts to set 53-man roster

AP photo by Hyosub Shin / Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell warms up for a scrimmage during the Atlanta Falcons' training camp Thursday in Flowery Branch, Ga. Treadwell was among the players Atlanta cut to get their roster down to 53 for the season opener.
AP photo by Hyosub Shin / Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell warms up for a scrimmage during the Atlanta Falcons' training camp Thursday in Flowery Branch, Ga. Treadwell was among the players Atlanta cut to get their roster down to 53 for the season opener.

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons cut former first-round pick Laquon Treadwell and two quarterbacks Saturday as they got down to the 53-man roster limit for the regular season.

Treadwell was the 23rd overall choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, but he has yet to make much of an impact in the NFL. He played in 53 games with Minnesota, including 16 starts, and had 65 catches for 701 yards and two touchdowns before the team let him go after four seasons.

Treadwell signed with the Falcons in March.

"Although my time here was short it definitely was worth it," Treadwell wrote on Twitter. "Great team, great city, great coaches!"

The Falcons were left with two quarterbacks on the roster after cutting Kurt Benkert and Kyle Lauletta, who signed only recently. Matt Ryan is heading into his 13th season as the starter, while 39-year-old Matt Schaub remains the backup.

There has been speculation the Falcons might be interested in Josh Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He was traded after only one season with the Arizona Cardinals and released Saturday after spending 2019 with the Miami Dolphins.

Benkert was on the practice squad in 2018 and missed all of last season after injuring a toe during the preseason.

"One way or another I am good and I am blessed," Benkert said on Twitter. "It's a marathon that I won't stop running for."

The Falcons also cut offensive linemen Ka'John Armstrong, Justin Gooseberry, Sean Harlow and Evin Ksiezarczyk; receivers Devin Gray, Juwan Green, Jalen McCleskey and Chris Rowland; tight end Jared Pinkney; running backs Mikey Daniel and Craig Reynolds; defensive lineman Hinwa Allieu, Austin Edwards and Sailosi Latu; linebackers Edmond Robinson and Ray Wilborn; cornerbacks Delrick Abrams, Tyler Hall and Josh Hawkins; and safeties Jamal Carter, Chris Cooper and J.J. Wilcox. Tight end Khari Lee had already been released with an injury settlement.

Defensive end Steven Means is on the COVID-19 list and doesn't count against the 53-man roster. Cornerback Jordan Miller will spend the first three games on the suspended list as he completes his punishment for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy late last season.

All six of Atlanta's 2020 draft picks made the 53-man roster.

The Falcons open the season Sept. 13 at home against the Seattle Seahawks.

The active roster will be augmented by a practice squad that has increased to 16 players because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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