Falcons sign kicker to practice squad, release safety ahead of Week 13

Falcons sign kicker Riley Patterson to the practice squad, release safety Dane Cruikshank

The Atlanta Falcons made a few changes to their practice squad on Friday, signing kicker Riley Patterson and releasing safety Dane Cruikshank in a corresponding transaction.

This signing could be a precautionary move as Younghoe Koo was listed on the team’s Thursday injury report. With Koo battling a hip injury in his kicking leg, Patterson gives the team a legitimate backup if he can’t play in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Patterson, 25, has appeared in 40 career games for four different teams. After spending his first two seasons in Detroit, he moved on to Jacksonville in 2022 before returning to the Lions in 2023.

After a quick stop in Cleveland, Patterson briefly landed with the New York Jets in 2024, playing in one game.

Cruikshank has spent the season on Atlanta’s practice squad. The veteran safety was elevated to the 53-man roster for the team’s Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos. Cruikshank’s release is a sign that the Falcons are getting healthier in the secondary.

Check out the team’s updated 53-man roster and practice squad entering Week 13.

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