FLOWERY BRANCH – Former Louisville running back Javian Hawkins was having a decent training camp with the Falcons, but was waived with four others in the cutdown to 80 players Tuesday.
Hawkins, who’s 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, rushed for a school-record 1,525 yards in 2019 and was named All-ACC second team. He signed with the Titans on Thursday, according to ESPN.
He rushed five times for two yards and caught a pass for two yards against Tennessee on Aug. 13. Hawkins had five carries for 46 yards against the Dolphins on Saturday, but the Falcons have what they think is a crowded backfield.
They will take six backs — Mike Davis, Cordarrelle Patterson, Keith Smith, Qadree Ollison, D’Onta Foreman and Caleb Huntley — into the exhibition finale against the Browns at 8 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Too many, and this isn’t like a knock on Javian,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said of the backfield situation. “It’s just the way the rules are, and when we had to make moves after every (exhibition) game a couple years ago. It was different (when) you carried 90 all the way through the fourth (exhibition game), so you’ve got to make moves.”
The Falcons expected Hawkins to get a call.
“Everybody we talked to, it’s not the end of the road for him,” Smith said. “Whether it’s here or somewhere else.”
The Falcons also waived linebacker Shareef Miller (partially guaranteed contract), offensive lineman Willie Wright (partially guaranteed contract), wide receiver Austin Trammell and nose tackle Olive Sagapolu this week.
The Falcons must trim to a 53-man roster by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
“It’s a hard profession, and I appreciate these guys that sign up for it,” Smith said. “They come in here, and then unfortunately we’ve got to make moves.”
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