Updated Injury Report for LB Atlanta Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen It’s been hours since this.
The linebacker duo of Nate Landman and Kaden Elliss was praised last season as the Atlanta Falcons defense made significant progress.
Elliss was supposed to do well; the Falcons handed him the starting defense and a three-year, $21.5 million deal for a reason.
However, Landman wasn’t meant to have the chance; Troy Andersen, a second-round selection in 2022—the same year Landman was not selected—was slated to take that slot.
Landman watched from the practice squad during their first season, while Andersen emerged as a starter during the last four games. During the summer of 2023, Landman took repetitions behind Andersen in the training camp.
But Landman was thrown into action two weeks into the season.
Two days following the club’s Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Andersen entered the Flowery Branch team facilities while suffering from a concussion.
In Week 2, Landman came in to replace him, playing all but one snap and recording four tackles. The next week, Andersen made a comeback; but, late in the fourth quarter of the Detroit Lions game, he sustained a pectoral injury that required surgery.
For the remaining 14 games, Atlanta needed a reliable substitute in the middle of their defense, and Landman delivered.
With 110 tackles and seven tackles for loss, the 6-3, 235-pound player was third on the team in terms of total tackles.Along with two sacks, an interception, and three forced fumbles, he matched for the team lead.
Earlier this spring, Landman, an exclusive rights free agent, was re-signed by the Falcons. There are two more years left on Elliss’s contract. Uncertainty surrounds Andersen’s position in base 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake.
In spite of this, Andersen, a 6-4, 235-pound specimen who ran a 4.42 40-yard sprint, is still viewed by Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot as having brighter days ahead of him.
He’s certainly getting hot, Fontenot commented. He’s displayed a lot of promise at linebacker. Simply said, he’s a large, athletic man with untapped potential and room to improve before an awful setback. And we’re quite happy with it.
Because of his strength and running style, we are certain that he will have a significant influence on our team.
The influence Andersen has on special teams was also mentioned by Fontenot. In 2022, he played 61% of Atlanta’s third-phase plays; in 2023, while healthy, he played only 25%.
Barrett Ruud, the recently appointed inside linebackers coach, pointed out that Andersen was productive before his injury. Andersen recorded 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one half-sack in two games.
However, 25-year-old Andersen is still developing. Despite having no specialized linebacker training when he came in Atlanta, he has played 620 defensive snaps in his career.
At Montana State University, he was engaged with the offense every year until his final one in 2021.
Andersen’s career with the Bobcats was truly remarkable. After winning the 2018 running back rookie of the year award, he was named an All-Big Sky quarterback in 2019. In 2021, he was crowned the FCS Defensive Player of the Year.
Andersen has a lot of potential, and Ruud sees a project he can shape.
Troy is most likely the best athlete in the linebackers’ room, according to Ruud. “Ability to run with great speed. Large, powerful, and quick. possesses every measurable.
Atlanta’s head coach Raheem Morris stated that the new coaching staff is still becoming acquainted with Andersen. Ultimately, there isn’t much footage available from the previous season.
Morris played linebacker during the Falcons’ private practice with Michael Penix Jr., a first-round quarterback, and contrasted Andersen’s quickness to his arm power. Morris also heard the lefty’s throws fly through the air.
The first-year head coach of the Falcons saw something similar as he watched Andersen’s foot mowing down the grass inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Morris stated, “You could feel the speed.” “Really excited to get him going, let’s see what we can accomplish next.”
There are a few surefire picks in the Falcons linebacker core. No. 1 will be Elliss, and No. 4 will probably be fifth-round rookie J.D. Bertrand.
However, throughout the four months leading up to the season premiere, what transpires between them could be determined.
Both enthusiasm and uncertainty are there.
Last season, Landman ran with his opportunity. Andersen was anticipated to follow suit, and this autumn, he could just be given another shot.
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