The Falcons filled out their 11-person practice squad by signing running back Brian Hill on Monday.
Hill was a fifth-round pick by the Falcons in 2017. He was released last season and caught on with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hill played in seven games for the Bengals and had 11 rushes for 37 yards and caught two passes for 36 yards.
Hill, who’s wearing number 32, said his approach with the Falcons will be simple.
“Come to work every day and hopefully get moved up to the 53,” Hill said.
He played one game with the Falcons last season, but couldn’t move past Terron Ward.
“I was doing pretty good for the Bengals, but they decided to go in another direction and cut me and offered me a practice squad spot,” Hill said. “At the same time, Atlanta offered the practice squad spot. So it was a decision between the two teams. I weighed my options and I felt like Atlanta was the best choice.”
Hill said familiarity with the scheme and how Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman treated him were the deciding factors.
The Falcons drafted running back Ito Smith in the fourth round in 2018.
If Hill had made it, the Falcons wouldn’t have had to draft Smith out of Southern Mississippi. Smith, made the 53-man roster, and will get an opportunity to replace Ward as the third running back.
After a spotty exhibition season from Smith, the Falcons now have some insurance in Hill.
Smith ran for 2,874 yards with 27 touchdowns over his final two seasons.
Some of the draft analysts believe the Falcons over-drafted Smith, who was projected to go in the seventh round by NFLDraftScout.com.
He’s similar to Hill, who was bigger and faster than Smith. Hill, at 6-foot-1, 219 pounds to Smith’s 5-9 and 195 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds to Smith’s 4.49 at the combine.
Hill also had better change-of-direction numbers in the three-cone drill, 7.03 to 7.22 seconds.
Smith had better explosion with a 37.5 inch vertical jump to Hill’s 34 inch jump and tested stronger than Hill with 22 lifts of 225 pounds to Hill’s 15.
Quarerback Kurt Benkert, tackle Daniel Brunskill, cornerback Deante Burton, tight end Jaeden Graham, wide receiver Devin Gray, center J.C. Hassenauer, cornerback Ryan Neal, defensive tackle Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, tight Alex Gray (International exception) and long snapper Jeff Overbaugh were named to the Falcons’ practice squad Sunday.
» Also: Falcons trim roster to 52
Linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee was claimed on waivers by the San Diego Chargers and defensive end Garrison Smith was claimed by the Arizona Cardinals.
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