Veteran linebacker Robert James, who tied for the team lead with 10 special-teams tackles last season, was cut by the Falcons on Saturday, as they trimmed their roster to 53 players.
The other players waived were fullback Patrick DiMarco, wide receiver Darius Johnson, cornerback Jordan Mabin, guard Phillipkeith Manley, guard/center Jacques McClendon, wide receiver Martel Moore, defensive tackle Adam Replogle and wide receiver James Rodgers.
James, a fifth-round pick in 2008, played in all 16 games last season and was considered a core member of the special-teams units.
Rodgers is the older brother of running back Jacquizz Rodgers. He was on the practice squad last season.
Undrafted rookies such as linebackers Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow and offensive tackles Terren Jones and Ryan Schraeder survived the initial cuts.
Bartu played extensively over the past two exhibition games to wrap up a roster spot.
“(Sean Weatherspoon), Stephen Nicholas and Akeem Dent have done a tremendous job of helping me out with my techniques and stuff,” Bartu said.
Worrilow, from Delaware, came on strong in the first exhibition game and proved that he’ll be able to help on special teams.
“I think that my game translates well over to special teams,” Worrilow said. “Getting to the ball and by being instinctual with picking up trap blocks. I think I can do a good job with that.”
Unlike in years past, the Falcons are scouring the waiver wires looking for help as they revamp their offensive line. They could also be in the market for a backup veteran quarterback.
They also can fill out their eight-man practice squad by Monday.
The Falcons started trimming their roster from 75 players to 53 on Friday, when they released 11 and placed two on injured reserve.
In addition to linebacker Brian Banks, who had the feel-good story of training camp, the Falcons released guard Theo Goins, defensive tackle Neal Huynh, cornerback Terrence Johnson, safety Charles Mitchell, defensive tackle Micanor Regis, offensive tackle Alec Savoie, linebacker Pat Schiller, kicker Jeremy Shelley, cornerback Peyton Thompson and running back Ronnie Wingo.
They also placed quarterback Sean Renfree and tight end Andrew Szczerba on injured reserve.
The only surprise in the first round of cuts was Mitchell, who was a sixth-round draft pick in 2012 and played in 12 games on special teams last season.
The Falcons, the defending NFC South champs, hope to be at full strength for the season opener against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. Sept. 8.
Wide receiver Roddy White (ankle), linebacker Stephen Nicholas (quadriceps) and kicker Matt Bryant (back) were held out of the exhibition finale because of injury. All are expected to be available for the season opener.
“That’s what we are anticipating at this point in time,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We are out of the preseason. We’ll start our official regular season (injury report) with Wednesday, Thursday and Friday updates in terms of what the NFL requires us to do in regards to our injury report.”
After reaching the NFC Championship game last season, the Falcons are being touted in several corners as a Super Bowl contender. But they have done very little in the exhibition season to warrant such lofty status. Smith said the Falcons experimented a lot of in the exhibition season.
Smith said in his first season, in 2008, the Falcons played to win in the exhibition season, but that changed.
“But over the last four years, our No. 1 goal has been to be as healthy as we possibly can and expose the players to things that are going to help them when we get into Week 6 or when we get into Week 12,” Smith said. “It’s a long season, and on that 53-man roster, everybody is going to have to contribute. We have to get everybody prepared for a long season that we’re getting ready to start.”
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