Falcons acquire QB Yates from Texans

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) The Atlanta Falcons have acquired reserve quarterback T.J. Yates in a trade that sends linebacker Akeem Dent to the Houston Texans.

Yates, a fifth-round pick in 2011, will have a chance to compete with Dominique Davis, Sean Renfree and Jeff Mathews for the No. 2 job behind Matt Ryan.

Yates, who graduated from Pope High School in nearby Marietta, has a 71.5 passer rating in 13 games, including five starts in 2011.

Dent, a third-round draft pick in 2011, lost his job as a starter last year and was listed behind rookies Prince Shembo and Marquis Spruill on Atlanta's depth chart at inside linebacker. Dent has started 20 of 47 career games.

Atlanta also signed free agent linebacker Tim Dobbins to a one-year contract.