The Falcons will open the season depending on rookie free agents more than they ever have under coach Mike Smith.
Four rookies who weren’t drafted made the team’s 53-man roster: offensive tackles Terren Jones and Ryan Schraeder and linebackers Joplu Bartu and Paul Worrilow. That’s the most such players since Smith started coaching the Falcons in 2008.
“They did a great job,” Smith said. “They competed. We said it was going to be an open competition and evaluation. They won the competition, and that’s why they are here on our squad.”
None of the four are products of so-called power football programs. Jones played at Alabama State, Schraeder at Valdosta State, Bartu at Texas State and Worrilow at Delaware. Only Texas State, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, competes at the FBS level.
Bartu could play a role from scrimmage early in the season. His coverage skills mean he may play on passing downs even after veteran Stephen Nicholas returns from injury.
Bartu also will play on all four special teams: punt and kickoff coverage and punt and kickoff returns. He said he played on all of the units at Texas State.
Bartu said he found out he made the team Saturday evening.
“I got a text message saying, ‘Welcome to the squad,’” he said. “It was a big relief because it’s been a long journey to get here. I called my mom, and she was excited.”
Worrilow made an early impression when he recorded 12 tackles in the exhibition opener against Cincinnati. He has backed up all three linebacker positions.
Worrilow was the Delaware state high school player of the year as a senior, but walked on at Delaware after a brief stint at a junior college. He said he found out he made the team when a Falcons staffer told him Saturday morning, and he spent the weekend celebrating with his girlfriend.
Now part of Worrilow’s development will include learning special teams. He said he played on all four units as a sophomore at Delaware, but was on only the punt coverage team as a junior and didn’t play special teams at all as a senior.
“I’ve got a lot of things to work on, especially punt and punt return, things I’ve been getting a lot of reps at,” Worrilow said. “Definitely a lot of technique things I’m still learning, that I’m still new at trying to get down.”
Schraeder competed with Lamar Holmes to start at right tackle after Mike Johnson suffered a leg injury early in training camp. Holmes kept the job, and Schraeder will back him up as well as serve as the No. 2 left tackle.
Injury report: Four Falcons starters did not practice Monday: kicker Matt Bryant (back), linebacker Stephen Nicholas (quadriceps), cornerback Asante Samuel (quadriceps) and wide receiver Roddy White (ankle).
The official injury reports are not released until Wednesday, but Smith said all four players would be ready to play Sunday.
“They are working well,” Smith said. “We are looking forward to having everybody available for the game on Sunday.”
Practice-squad guard Phillipkeith Manley left the field with what appeared to be a left ankle injury and did not return.
Renfree on radar: The Falcons could have reached an injury settlement and released rookie quarterback Sean Renfree after he hurt his shoulder during the final exhibition game. Instead the team placed him on injured reserve to keep him as a developmental prospect.
“We like Sean a lot in terms of his skill set,” Smith said. “We feel very good about what Sean did for us in the preseason.”
The Falcons selected Renfree in the seventh round of the draft out of Duke. In three exhibition games Renfree completed 13 of 25 passes for 84 yards.
Etc.: With Bryant out, punter Matt Bosher kicked field goals during practice, and quarterback Matt Ryan took on Bosher's usual duties as the holder… .Worrilow changed his uniform number to 55 after wearing 49 during the preseason. … Linebacker Robert James and guard Jacques McClendon both were claimed off the waiver wire after the Falcons released them Saturday. The Ravens claimed James, and the Jaguars claimed McClendon.
