Desmond Ridder and the Atlanta Falcons will try to enjoy success through the air for the second straight week when they face a Washington Commanders team looking to end a three-game losing streak. The Commanders can be expected to try to establish a running game after putting too much pressure on quarterback Sam Howell in last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears. The Falcons will counter with rookie running back Bijan Robinson, who had a highlight-worthy 6-yard touchdown catch in last week’s win over Houston. The Commanders have won the past two games in the series.
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Who: Falcons vs. Commanders
When: 1 p.m. ET Oct. 15
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
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Van Jefferson joins Falcons practice, gives QB Ridder yet another playmaker
By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Only three days after taking advantage of his wealth of receiving options for the best game of his career, Desmond Ridder has been provided yet another playmaker in the Atlanta Falcons’ passing game.
Newly acquired wide receiver Van Jefferson said he caught a red-eye flight from Los Angeles following his trade from the Rams and arrived in Atlanta at 6 a.m. Wednesday. But first he received a phone call from Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, his former University of Florida teammate.
“He was screaming on the phone,” Jefferson said following practice Wednesday as the Falcons (3-2) prepared for Sunday’s home game against the Washington Commanders.
Jefferson said he was excited to learn he was acquired by the Falcons from the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday. The Falcons obtained Jefferson and a seventh-round draft pick in 2025 and sent the Rams a sixth-round pick in 2025.
Jefferson, 27, has only eight catches for 108 yards and no touchdowns this season, but has an opportunity to revive his career in Atlanta.
“I just want to come in and be a team player, whatever they want me to do,” Jefferson said.
Ridder passed for a career-high 329 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 21-19 win over the Houston Texans. Ridder completed 28 of 37 passes without an interception as 11 players were targeted and 10 caught passes.
“It’s huge,” said Ridder on Wednesday of his wealth of options. “We’ve got weapons everywhere. It takes pressure off me, not thinking that I have to do everything or I have to do too much.”
Ridder has leaned heavily on tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson in the passing game. Now Jefferson joins the depth chart at wide receiver, where Drake London and Mack Hollins are the top options.
Pitts said Jefferson was “100% happy, he was excited he got a fresh start” when the two talked on the phone Tuesday.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith, the former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator, said he had extra interest in tracking the young receiver’s progress because his father is former NFL receiver Shawn Jefferson, who played in Atlanta from 2000-02 near the end of his long career. Shawn Jefferson was an assistant coach for the Titans from 2013-15 when Smith was on the staff.
“You do feel good when you know what he’s about and obviously the tape matches it, too,” Smith said Wednesday of Van Jefferson. “It’s not just the personal relationship, but you feel good about bringing him into the locker room.”
Van Jefferson was a second-round pick by the Rams in 2020 who set career highs with 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns in the 2021 championship season before adding four receptions in Super Bowl 56.
Jefferson was made available for trade by the Rams after Cooper Kupp’s strong return from injury last Sunday against Philadelphia. A healthy Kupp added to the team’s surplus at wide receiver, thanks to the emergence of rookie Puka Nacua and third-year pro Tutu Atwell.
Jefferson said he hopes to make a quick adjustment to Atlanta’s offense and said he expects to be available this week. Ridder said that could be a challenge.
“It’s coming into a new offense for him so obviously it’s going to take a little time to get connected and make sure we’re communicating,” Ridder said.
Smith said he has seen a player be part of a game plan in a Thursday night game after signing with the team that week.
“It’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Smith said. “Just depends on what you ask him to do and how he can help fit the puzzle together and how effective a guy can be and where he’ll fit. … We’ll make that decision on Saturday.”
NOTES: LB Andre Smith Jr., who was released following Tuesday’s trade, and WR Keilahn Harris were signed to the practice squad. The team released WR C.J. Saunders.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Ridder, Falcons look to keep passing game clicking against struggling Commanders
By The Associated Press undefined
WASHINGTON (2-3) at ATLANTA (3-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
OPENING LINE: Falcons by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Washington 2-3, Atlanta 1-4.
SERIES RECORD: Commanders lead 17-10-1.
LAST MEETING: Commanders beat Falcons 19-13 on Nov. 22, 2022, at Washington.
LAST WEEK: Bears beat Commanders 40-20; Falcons beat Texans 21-19.
COMMANDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (24), PASS (12), SCORING (18)
COMMANDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (24), PASS (21), SCORING (31)
FALCONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (13), PASS (23), SCORING (T27).
FALCONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (15), PASS (7), SCORING (10).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Commanders minus-5; Falcons -3.
COMMANDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Brian Robinson Jr. After Washington dropped back to pass 55 consecutive times against the Bears from midway through the second quarter through the end of the embarrassing loss, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy almost certainly has to try to get some balance back. That starts with Robinson, who is averaging more than 4 yards per carry and has three rushing touchdowns through five games.
FALCONS PLAYER TO WATCH: Rookie RB Bijan Robinson ran for only 46 yards last week against Houston but still made an impact with a 6-yard scoring catch, pulling the ball in with his left hand against his hip before scoring. Robinson’s 3.3 yards per carry matched his season low in a week that the Falcons enjoyed more success through the air, but the rookie could have more success on the ground against Washington’s 24th-ranked run defense. Robinson, Baltimore WR Zay Flowers and Rams WR Puka Nacua are the only rookies with at least 50 yards from scrimmage in five games this season. Robinson is tied for second among running backs with 21 catches.
KEY MATCHUP: Falcons QB Desmond Ridder vs. Commanders pass defense. Was Atlanta’s sudden success through the air against Houston last week an aberration? Ridder threw for a career-high 329 yards and set another high mark with 28 completions while throwing for a touchdown and no interceptions in the win. Ridder also ran for a score, one week after he committed three turnovers in a loss to Jacksonville. Perhaps the most telling statistic was the Falcons did not allow a sack in the game, so the ability to again provide time for Ridder will be crucial.
KEY INJURIES: The Commanders will be without starting safety Darrick Forrest and All-Pro special teams player Jeremy Reaves after putting them on injured reserve. … Falcons RT Kaleb McGary left last week’s game with a left knee injury and had limited participation in Wednesday’s practice. TE Jonnu Smith (ankle) and OLB Bud Dupree (Wednesday) also were limited.
SERIES NOTES: The teams are playing for a third consecutive season. Washington has won the past two meetings.
STATS AND STUFF: Commanders QB Sam Howell threw for a career-high 37 completions and 388 yards and had an interception in the loss to Chicago. … RB Antonio Gibson had a season-best 64 yards receiving against the Bears. … WR Terry McLaurin had six catches for 123 yards and two TDs in his first game at Atlanta. … DE Montez Sweat is tied for 10th in the NFL with 4 1/2 sacks. … S Kam Curl has made five-plus tackles in 14 consecutive games. … The Falcons are tied for last in the league with five sacks. … WR Drake London set a season high with 78 receiving yards and TE Kyle Pitts set a season high with seven catches and 87 yards last week. … TE Jonnu Smith has at least five catches in three consecutive games. … DL Calais Campbell needs one sack to become the fifth active player with at least 100 for his career. Campbell has two sacks, three pass deflections and a forced fumble in his past four games against Washington.
FANTASY TIP: Commanders TE Logan Thomas could be an excellent lineup choice for fantasy managers. Thomas led Washington with nine catches for 77 yards last week. Even though Atlanta ranks a solid seventh in pass defense, the Falcons have allowed at least eight catches to opposing tight ends in three straight games. Overall, tight ends have 35 catches for 313 yards and three touchdowns against Atlanta in five games.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
The Associated Press contributed to this article
