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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons EDGE Bralen Trice says he 'feels great' despite missing preseason opener
Edge rusher Bralen Trice was among the players who did not get the chance to take the field with the Falcons in the team's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, but it doesn't mean the outlook is pessimistic. In fact, Trice himself seems rather optimistic about his 2025 season outlook. 'Nothing negative. Just taking care of my knee, making sure I get through the preseason," edge rusher Bralen Trice said, per the team's Terrin Waack. Trice, who was unable to take the field for the entirety of his rookie season due to a preseason ACL injury, says his knee actually "feels great" at this point. With this, it is expected we will get get a chance to see what Trice is truly made of as a player sooner rather than later. The 6-foot-4, 274-pounder who was originally selected by the team in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, earned high accolades at Washington, named the team's MVP in 2022 and 2023. The best season of his career came in 2023 when he set a single-season career-high with 49 tackles (30 solo), tallying seven sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over 15 starts. On the entirety of his college career, the former Husky left the university with 101 combined tackles (63 solo), 29 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. As things continue to trend in the right direction, it will be interesting to see how Trice looks in the second game olf the preseason as the Falcons take on the Tennessee Titans. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matthew Judon Reportedly Unhappy With Falcons, Not Expected to Return Next Season
Matthew Judon, a veteran outside linebacker, was traded from the New England Patriots to the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 14, 2024, after rookie Bralen Trice tore his ACL. The Falcons took on Judon's $6.5 million base salary, hoping his experience and pass-rushing skills would boost their defense. Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler, had recorded 12 or more sacks in two of the previous three seasons. But his time in Atlanta fell short of expectations. He finished the 2024 season with 5.5 sacks, 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits, according to NFL Rumors. Pro Football Focus ranked him 70th out of 71 edge rushers. Judon later said he was frustrated because he was asked to drop into pass coverage on 60% of plays, which limited his chances to rush the quarterback. What was once seen as a strong move by Atlanta was later viewed by some fans and analysts as a disappointment due to the mismatch between Judon's strengths and the team's defensive scheme. Veteran Linebacker Frustrated With Usage Judon didn't blame bad luck for his drop in production with the Falcons. Instead, he pointed to how he was used in the defensive scheme. 'Hell naw, (it wasn't bad luck),' Judon said Saturday. 'If you go look at the film, I dropped (into coverage) on 60% of the plays. It's hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.' He added that he was just following the game plan, saying, 'We got to play the play that's called.' Advertisement When asked about his chances of returning to Atlanta, Judon said it's unlikely, especially after the team invested in younger edge rushers. 'Yeah, probably,' he said. 'And then they had another kid (Bralen Trice) who tore his ACL. They'll want to let them get out there and see what they can do. Hopefully they can be great edges in this league.' As for his future, Judon said he's staying away from offseason programs for now. 'I really haven't gone to OTAs or minicamps since Year 2 in the league,' he said. 'Right now, I'm just weighing the options, chilling and enjoying my family.' Judon's time in Atlanta didn't go as planned, but he's keeping his options open for the future. Wherever he lands next, he hopes to return to doing what he does best — rushing the quarterback. Related: Kirk Cousins Trade Rumors: Latest Update on Falcons QB's Future in Atlanta Related: Why Falcons Fans Are Outraged Over Jalon Walker Wearing Julio Jones' No. 11 Jersey
