Falcons Sign 'Competitive' Rookie Natrone Brooks to Practice Squad
The Atlanta Falcons have reunited with cornerback Natrone Brooks.
Just one day after announcing that Brooks was a part of the final wave of roster cuts en route from going 90 players down to 53, Atlanta has added the undrafted rookie to its practice squad.
Brooks, 23, had an impressive training camp and starred during the preseason; in the finale, he recorded five tackles and displayed his competitive edge, something Falcons coach Arthur Smith is quite find of.
“He's one of the more competitive players I've coached," Smith said. "He's got an instinct for the football. A guy like him, you want to see what it looks like against three guys of their starting receivers. Going to have to see those on the far side. The one that [George] Pickens caught, that's an NFL play. You guys probably had a better view. I saw a review up there, making sure he was in so I don't have to challenge it. You want to see him compete. Competitive, a lot of instinct.”
Brooks may not be equipped to play against top receivers like Pickens ... that's a job for someone like A.J. Terrell, who didn't play after Smith sat his starters. However, throwing out the fringe roster players against the Steelers first-team really exposes how competitive the backend of the roster can be ... and Brooks is proof of that.
As an undrafted free agent, it was always an uphill battle for Brooks to make the active roster - however, his competitive edge and instincts impressed the Falcons enough to stick around at the sport's highest level, and he may still get a chance to play on Sundays as a practice squad elevation.
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