Can Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts keep playing at a high level?
FLOWERY BRANCH — Can Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts turn in another big game, or is he just good against teams in Florida?
Pitts, who’s set to become a free agent after the season, will be on the hot seat when the Falcons (5-9) face the Cardinals (3-11) at 4:05 p.m. Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“I would love to be here (with the Falcons),” Pitts said about his contract situation.
Pitts caught 11 of 12 targets for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the 29-28 win Dec. 11 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
He had a big game against the Buccaneers last season in Tampa, when he caught four passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
In his rookie season, he caught seven passes for 163 yards, setting his previous career-high, against the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Florida.
“I love the state of Florida,” said Pitts, who played three seasons in college for the Florida Gators.
With wide receiver Drake London out the past four games, the Falcons leaned on Pitts to carry the passing attack. Over the four games without London, Pitts was targeted 40 times and caught 26 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Pitts, who was named the NFC’s offensive player of the week this week, became the fourth NFL tight end with 10 or more catches, 150 or more receiving yards and three-plus receiving touchdowns in a game, joining Shannon Sharpe (1996), Kellen Winslow (1983) and Todd Christensen (1983).
In a contract year, Pitts has a career-high 73 catches on the season. He’s caught 73 of 97 targets for a career-high catch percentage of 75.3%. He has 797 yards receiving and four touchdowns. He needs another touchdown to set a new career high and 230 yards receiving to eclipse his career high of 1,026, set in his 2021 rookie season.
Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger has been preaching to Pitts to play fast and battle for the football on contested passes. With his rookie contract set to run out, he appears to be receiving the message.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
