The Falcons moved to bolster the interior of their defensive line by signing 10-year veteran Ahtyba Rubin, who will practice Thursday afternoon and be considered for action in Sunday night’s game at New England.
Atlanta waived defensive tackle Taniela Tupou, who was recently signed off the team’s practice squad in the wake of a season-ending biceps injury to tackle Jack Crawford.
Rubin (6-foot-2, 310 pounds) spent seven years with the Browns, two with the Seahawks and played in two games for the Broncos this season.
Cleveland drafted him in the fifth round in 2008 out of Iowa State. He’s played in 132 NFL games, starting 107, with 413 combined tackles and assists, 15 sacks, six forced fumbles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Rubin was released by Denver Tuesday. Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he will be evaluated over the next couple days to possibly play against the Patriots.
“When Jack went down we had a good-sized player [lost] inside, and with [Rubin] ... although I didn’t coach him I knew the style that he played and went back to evaluate him from last year and this year,” Quinn said.
“And we felt it was important to have another guy with his strength and stature inside, so when he became available [upon being released by Denver] it was a quick decision to get ahold of him and get him here and see if can be the right fit for him.”
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