The Falcons started their process of cutting the roster from 80 players to the 53-man roster Friday. They have until 4 p.m. Saturday to make all of their cuts.
On Saturday, safety Jamal Carter was cut and will be headed to the 16-member practice squad and former Minnesota first-round pick Laquon Treadwell was cut, according to ESPN which cited a source. Treadwell’s agent did not immediately confirm the report.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Chris Rowland was cut. The team hopes to bring him back to the practice squad.
Treadwell, who was a first-round pick of the Vikings in 2016, signed with the Falcons as a free agent in March.
Treadwell, 24, was drafted 23rd overall by Minnesota in the 2016 draft out of Mississippi.
He has played in 53 games and made 16 starts for the Vikings, making 65 of 107 targeted catches for 701 yards and two touchdowns.
The Falcons were hoping that he could take over the fourth receiver spot that was vacant after the team did not re-sign Justin Hardy.
Treadwell had several drops in training camp and didn’t appear to get good separation on his routes. The Falcons are likely to keep Christian Blake and Brandon Powell.
On Friday, former Georgia Southern and Cairo High standout J. J. Wilcox was cut.
Wilcox, 29, signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in April 2019 after splitting the 2018 season with the Colts and Jets. He was selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2013 draft and also spent a season with the Steelers. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on the first day of training camp last season. The Falcons re-signed him Aug. 6.
Fullback Mikey Daniel, who played at South Dakota State, was cut by the team Friday, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Also, running back Craig Reynolds, tackle Evin Ksiezarczyk and defensive lineman Hinwa Allieu were waived.
Tight end Khari Lee was released with an injury settlement Thursday.
Daniel was a long shot after the Falcons signed fullback Keith Smith to a three-year, $5.5 million contract in March. Daniel, 6-foot-0 and 235 pounds, finished his college career with 1,728 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on 364 carries.
Here’s a position-by-position look at how the Falcons will cut to 53 players for the start of the season:
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS (2)
Locks: Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub. Long shots: Kurt Benkert and Kyle Lauletta.
RUNNING BACKS (5/6)
Locks: Todd Gurley, Ito Smith, Brian Hill, Qadree Ollison and Keith Smith. Cut: Mikey Daniel and Craig Reynolds.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6/7)
Locks: Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus. On the bubble: Brandon Powell, Christian Blake. Long shots: Devin Gray, Juwan Green, Jalen McCleskey. Cut: Laquon Treadwell, Chris Rowland.
TIGHT ENDS (3/4)
Locks: Hayden Hurst, Luke Stocker and Jaeden Graham. Long shot: Jared Pinkney. Cut: Khari Lee (injury settlement).
OFFENSIVE LINE (9/10)
Locks: Alex Mack, Jake Matthews, Kaleb McGary, Chris Lindstrom, Matt Hennessey, James Carpenter, Justin McCray. On the bubble: John Wetzel, Sean Harlow and Matt Gono. Long shots: Ka’John Armstrong, Justin Gooseberry. Cut: Evin Ksiezarczyk.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE ENDS (5-6)
Locks: Dante Fowler, Takkarist McKinley, Allen Bailey, Steven Means. On the bubble: Charles Harris and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. Long shot: Austin Edwards.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES (5/6)
Locks: Grady Jarrett, Tyeler Davison, Marlon Davidson and John Cominsky. On the bubble: Deadrin Senat. Long shots: Sailosi Latu. Cut: Hinwa Allieu
LINEBACKERS (5/6)
Locks: Deion Jones, Foyesade Oluokun, Mykal Walker and LaRoy Reynolds. On the bubble: Deone Bucannon, Edmond Robinson. Long shot: Ray Wilborn.
CORNERBACKS (5/6)
Locks: A.J. Terrell, Darqueze Dennard, Isaiah Oliver, Kendall Sheffield and Blidi Wreh-Wilson. On the bubble: Jordan Miller. Long shots: Josh Hawkins, Delrick Abrams, Tyler Hall.
SAFETIES (4/5)
Locks: Ricardo Allen, Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, Sharrod Neasman and Jaylinn Hawkins. Long shots: Chris Cooper. Cut: J.J. Wilcox, Jamal Carter
SPECIALISTS (3)
Locks: K - Younghoe Koo, P - Sterling Hofrichter, LS - Josh Harris.
Jason Butt contributed to this report.
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