–Falcons rookie fullback Bradie Ewing is out for the season after suffering a knee injury in Thursday night’s exhibition season opener against Baltimore, according to coach Mike Smith.
“Unfortunately, we have to announce that Bradie Ewing will miss the entire season after sustaining a knee injury in last night’s contest,” Smith said in a statement Friday. “As a result, we will be placing him on injured reserve tomorrow. Bradie is a talented player and I know he and our training staff will do everything they can to ensure a full recovery.”
Ewing was injured on special teams. He went down with 6:56 remaining in the first quarter on the Ravens’ second punt of the game. After being helped from the field, Ewing was taken to the locker room on a cart and did not return.
–Fullback Lousaka Polite and tight end Chase Coffman were signed on Saturday.
The team also waived two local products in tight end Adam Nissley and punter Dawson Zimmerman. Nissley (South Forsyth High) was waived injured after hurting his knee in Thursday’s exhibition game against the Ravens. Zimmerman (Brookwood High) also saw action against the Ravens.
Polite, who played his college football at Pittsburgh, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys in 2004. He spent three seasons with the Cowboys. He has also played with the Bears, Dolphins and most recently the Patriots, who released him in March. For his career, Polite has 95 carries for 296 yards and one touchdown.
Coffman, who played at Missouri, was a third-round draft pick (No. 98 overall) by the Bengals in 2009. He had a season-ending ankle injury his rookie season and stayed with the Bengals on their practice squad until 2011. He spent last season with the Buccaneers. He was waived on Aug. 6.
–Coach Mike Smith has said many times during training camp that there is open competition at several positions this season. He reiterated such comments Thursday in regards to the backup quarterback positions behind starter Matt Ryan.
Smith was asked following the game if the battle at quarterback was for the second spot or just the third spot.
“I think it’s wide open.” Smith said. “It will play itself out over the next three weeks. I don’t think anyone has an advantage over the other one. We are going to let these guys put a body of work out there and we are going to evaluate it at the end of the preseason.”
Chris Redman, the No. 2 last season, was 1-for-6 for eight yards. John Parker Wilson was 8-for-13 for 69 yards. Dominique Davis was 6-for-11 for 53 yards. All played with the second and third units.
–The Falcons used a starting offensive line of Sam Baker (left tackle), Justin Blalock (left guard), Todd McClure (center), Garrett Reynolds (right guard) and Tyson Clabo (right tackle). It was the same first unit they have used during training camp.
On the Falcons’ fourth offensive series, Joe Hawley replaced the veteran McClure at center. The second unit that entered in the second quarter was Will Svitek, Andrew Jackson, Hawley, rookie Peter Konz and Mike Johnson. Konz later moved to center and was replaced by Phillip Manley.
The final offensive line used consisted of Bryce Harris, Manley, Tyler Horn, Konz and Jackson. Rookie Lamar Holmes, a third-round draft pick who missed much of the offseason with a broken toe, did not play.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It felt great. We’ve been working during OTAs plus the offseason; this is kind of my first offseason and OTAs. But just being able to go out there and connect like that was a really good feeling.” — WR Julio Jones after catching six passes for 109 yards and one touchdown in one quarter of work in the exhibition opener against the Ravens.