Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins will have to rise up against the San Francisco 49ers, who will start strong-armed quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
The 49ers spent good money — five years, $40 million — on speedy receiver Torrey Smith, but former starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick couldn’t get Smith the ball. Gabbert, who’s replacing Kaepernick, has a strong arm and will take some deep shots against the Falcons.
Collins will be his likely target.
Smith, who formerly played with the Baltimore Ravens, has 16 catches for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
Collins, who’s been playing right cornerback in the nickel, will be pressed into service in the base defense with Robert Alford out with a groin injury.
Collins, the Falcons’ second-round pick out of LSU, struggled in the exhibition season, but has held up against Tennessee’s Zach Mettenberger and Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston.
Collins played 50 snaps against Tampa Bay — the most by any Falcons cornerback in the 23-20 overtime loss.
“I did see a lot of time,” he said. “I was out there, and I had to step up. We didn’t really see a lot of tips my way, and I was still ready.”
Collins played 67 snaps and helped hold the Titans to 179 passing yards in the Falcons’ 10-7 win.
Defensive coordinator Richard Smith has been a staunch supporter of Collins.
“When you have a young rookie like that, every snap, he’s going to get better,” Smith said. “There’s some things that you can do as a coach in a classroom or (when) you’re watching film, but where you really get the experience is going out and doing it.”
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