Tag: Feleipe Franks

Top 5 first-year-as-starter seasons at quarterback since 2000

Arkansas has had a number of quarterbacks put up impressive numbers in their first season as the starter.

KJ Jefferson has impressed to say the least in his first full season as the starter in 2021.

Jefferson had made spot starts in his first two seasons on campus (the first was a redshirt) but he is firmly entrenched now.

Arkansas has had a number of quarterbacks make a splash in their first year as the starter since the turn of the millennium.

Here is a look at the top five seasons compiled by first year Razorback signal callers since 2000.

 

Falcons list inactives for Sunday’s matchup vs. Dolphins

The Atlanta Falcons have released their Week 7 inactives list for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

The Atlanta Falcons have released their Week 7 inactives list for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Among those not suiting up for the Falcons are cornerback Kendall Sheffield, quarterback/tight end Feleipe Franks and wide receiver Frank Darby.

While not listed on the inactives for Atlanta, starting right tackle Kaleb McGary won’t play as he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week, leaving Jason Spriggs or Colby Gossett to fill in. Here’s the full Week 7 inactives list.

  • CB Kendall Sheffield
  • QB Feleipe Franks
  • CB Avery Williams
  • DL John Cominsky
  • WR Frank Darby
  • DL Mike Pennel
  • LB Dorian Etheridge

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Falcons comfortable with Josh Rosen, Feleipe Franks as backups

Leading up to the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline, very few anticipated the Falcons keeping three quarterbacks.

Leading up to the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline, very few anticipated the Falcons keeping three quarterbacks, but both backups Feleipe Franks and Josh Rosen would end up making the initial cut.

Head coach Arthur Smith spoke on the decision after Thursday’s practice, saying he’s comfortable with what he has on the roster, but a move to get better is always in the cards, regardless of position.

“I’ll never say we won’t make another move because we’ll always look and we’ll see what comes up,” said Smith. “That’s at every position. So far, you know, we feel pretty good about where we’re at with those guys.”

The Falcons still have time to scan the league for an upgrade. As things currently stand, the quarterback position is one of the weaker areas on the roster. If Atlanta were to lose Matt Ryan for an extended period of time, the offense would be in serious trouble.

However, any team that loses a starting QB for significant among of games is going to struggle. That’s just the nature of the NFL.

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Falcons head coach Arthur Smith discusses roster cuts

“Really nothing finalizes until we go into late next week before we get ready for Philly,” said Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.

The Atlanta Falcons trimmed their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday, four hours ahead of the NFL’s cut deadline. And while making the team is a huge accomplishment for any player, it doesn’t guarantee them anything. Following practice on Tuesday, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said not to read too much into the initial roster.

“Well, the thing is, it’s the truth because of the way the schedule is now,” said Smith. “You’ve got a whole week with all the different rules. You know, you get the 16-person practice squad, you get the 54 and 55th spot and there’s a lot of flexibility, and you have a whole week to kind of prepare. So, I think you’ll see a lot of roster manipulation the whole week from the league.”

“Everything’s fluid, nothing’s set in stone and we’ll monitor everything all week. Really nothing finalizes until we go into late next week before we get ready for Philly,” continued Smith.

When asked specifically about Josh Rosen and Feleipe Franks, and the decision to keep three quarterback son the roster, Smith stayed noncommittal and stated they will be watching the names on the waiver wire.

“We had two different plan of attacks the other night with those guys. Like I said, obviously we need to score more points but the objective the other night was to get them to operate, how to call the game with them. They were in two different points in their career, and really in this training camp, because Feleipe had been with us, Josh we just signed, stating the obvious there. Pretty pleased with both of them, but again, it’s a fluid situation we will continue to monitor the rest of the league because the rosters aren’t fully set.”

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WATCH: Kyle Pitts makes first NFL catch on a pass from Feleipe Franks

Pitts’ lone catch of the preseason went for 27 yards.

Former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts is expected to do big things as a rookie. As the highest-drafted tight end in modern NFL history, the fourth-overall pick is considered one of the best prospects at the position of all time.

But aside from a few camp highlights, Pitts’ progress had been almost entirely left to our imaginations. He didn’t play in Atlanta‘s first two preseason games, but he finally made his debut in the finale on Sunday night, and he didn’t wait long to make an impact.

With his former college quarterback in Feleipe Franks under center for the Falcons, the team had Pitts run a drag route in sync with Franks’ rollout. It seems the Cleveland defense forgot about him, because he was wide open.

Franks connected with him and he immediately turned on the gas, getting downfield and exploding through the Browns’ defense. It took a group of defenders to eventually bring him down 27 yards later.

Pitts night came to an end after that. We may not have gotten to see how dangerous he’ll be as a downfield threat, but he looks just as dominant with the ball in his hands as he did in college.

The Falcons open the season against an Eagles team that’s expected to struggle in 2021, and Pitts will undoubtedly be one of quarterback Matt Ryan’s top targets in that game.

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Falcons to sign former top-10 pick QB Josh Rosen

After working out multiple quarterbacks Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons have found their replacement for AJ McCarron.

After placing AJ McCarron on the inured reserve list with a torn ACL Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons are set to sign former top-10 pick Josh Rosen, according to a report from ESPN’s Jordan Schultz.

Rosen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 10 overall pick in 2018, but things went south fast and the following year, the Cardinals selected Kyler Murray first overall.

Over three NFL seasons with Arizona, Miami and San Francisco, Rosen has played in 20 games (16 starts), throwing for 2,845 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and a passer rating of 63.5.

A quarterback signing was anticipated after McCarron was ruled out for the year. Falcons rookie Feleipe Franks is still firmly in the picture, and while he may not have the mechanics to be an efficient pocket passer just yet, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound former Arkansas QB is extremely mobile with a strong arm.

Look for both Rosen and Franks to see extended time against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday evening in Atlanta’s preseason finale.

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Falcons place AJ McCarron on IR, will work out QBs Monday afternoon

The Atlanta Falcons have no choice but to go out and acquire a quarterback after placing AJ McCarron on the injured reserve list.

The Atlanta Falcons have no choice but to go out and acquire a quarterback after AJ McCarron was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury. On Monday, McCarron was placed on the injured reserve list and the team plans to work out multiple quarterbacks this afternoon.

Atlanta also has rookie Feleipe Franks, who figures to have a better shot at the No. 2 QB spot with McCarron out of the picture. Franks didn’t exactly help his chances during the Falcons’ preseason loss to Miami over the weekend, completing just four of nine passes for 46 yards, one interception and a quarterback rating of 20.8.

While we wait to see who the team brings in, here’s a look at 11 available quarterbacks that Atlanta could consider.

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Falcons rookie Feleipe Franks’ stock down after poor showing in Miami

The quarterback Falcons fans wanted to see the most on Saturday night was undrafted rookie Feleipe Franks.

The quarterback Falcons fans wanted to see the most on Saturday night was undrafted rookie Feleipe Franks. After an unfortunate injury to AJ McCarron early on, Franks played the majority of the game. Despite the prime opportunity to cement his role as the backup, Franks instead took two steps back during Atlanta’s 37-17 loss to Miami.

Franks competed four of nine passes for only 46 yards with an interception. The young QB did find wide receiver Tajae Sharpe in the end zone for what would have been a touchdown but the pass was dropped. On the ground, where Franks seems to be more effective, he went for 32 yards on three carries.

McCarron’s injury could be one that forces the Falcons into the free agency pool or possibly the trade market.

Franks does the ability to extend plays in the pocket with his feet, another element that McCarron doesn’t have. However, the former Arkansas QB still has issues with his reads and is too trigger happy with his legs. These aren’t issues you can fix in a week.

Through his first two preseason games, Franks has competed six of eight passes for 62 yards and the likelihood that he makes the 53-man roster, or practice squad, appears to be dwindling. With plans to play starters next week against the Browns, and the likely addition of another QB, Franks could see his rep count drop considerably.

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Falcons Twitter reacts to Friday’s preseason loss to Titans

There were some bright spots on Atlanta’s defense, but the team struggled offensively in its first game under head coach Arthur Smith.

The Falcons lost 23-3 to the Titans in Friday’s preseason opener, and while the results don’t matter in the exhibition season, the coaching staff will be evaluating every minute of film. There were some bright spots on Atlanta’s defense, but the team struggled offensively in its first game under head coach Arthur Smith.

Let’s see how the people of Twitter reacted to the Falcons’ lopsided loss.

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Falcons Highlights: QB Feleipe Franks scrambles for 52 yards

Watch as Franks feels pressure from the left, moves up in the pocket and takes off for a 52-yard gain

The Atlanta Falcons’ offense has had very little success through the first three quarters of their preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, but undrafted rookie quarterback Feleipe Franks gave fans one memorable highlight in the fourth quarter.

Watch as Franks feels pressure from the left, moves up in the pocket and takes off for a 52-yard gain, as shared by the team’s Twitter account below.

The Falcons trail 23-3 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

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