After the Falcons play the Jaguars on Thursday night, they can start pointing toward the start of the regular season.
The first order of business will be to cut the roster down from 91 players to the mandated 53-man unit and what to do with cornerback Jalen Collins, who’s been suspended for 10 games.
The Falcons must be down to 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday. They have an International player exemption for tight end Alex Gray, a developmental player from London.
They can put Collins on the suspended list and he won’t count against the 53-man roster. After his second violation of the league’s performing enhancement drug policy, the team may elect to part ways with the former second-round pick from LSU.
Coach Dan Quinn said no decision has been yet and that the violation of trust, for a second time, has been difficult for the organization to deal with.
Collins will learn his fate on Friday.
Once the roster is down to 53, the Falcons can start to construct their 10-member practice squad after midnight on Sunday.
The Falcons can sign free agents who do not have accrued season of free agency credit or who were on the 46-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season or seasons.
A player can not participate on a practice squad for more than three seasons.
“There is definitely a group already that we’ve identified that we think really has some skill development stuff,” Quinn said. “That’s why this last game, there are a few more that we have (to evaluate)… some need reps and reps and reps to get more comfortable playing ball.”
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