Ryan and Hooper working on craft in offseason
Falcons tight end Austin Hooper is staying around town for the offseason and his making himself available anytime that quarterback Matt Ryan wants to throw.
The two were out on Saturday, according to a tweet from a fan.
Hooper, who was a first-time full-time starter last season, had a monster season-opening game against the Bears, but proved to be undependable as the season progressed. He caught 49 of 65 targets (75.4 percent catch rate) for 526 yards and three touchdowns. He had 265 yards after the catch.
Hooper didn’t fight back to the ball on a memorable play against the Dolphins and had three drops, including one that turned into an interception, against the Saints.
Backup tight end Eric Saubert is a project. He played 30 snaps on offense and 212 on special teams.
The Falcons released tight end Levine Toilolo and signed Logan Paulsen, a 264-pound blocking tight end this offseason.
The Falcons remain high on Hooper, who was drafted after three seasons at Stanford and has more to mature and grow as a player.
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.
