Rashaan Evans, who recorded 159 tackles for the Atlanta Falcons during the 2022 season, has returned to the team after they did not re-sign him in free agency. The Falcons announced on Tuesday that Evans has been signed to their practice squad.
Starting inside linebacker Troy Andersen did not practice on Tuesday as the team prepared for their upcoming Thursday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Andersen, the team’s leading tackler this season, was sidelined due to Nate Landman’s placement on injured reserve after he suffered calf and quad injuries in the season opener.
If Andersen is unable to play on Thursday, the Falcons would be left with only fifth-round rookie JD Bertrand to start alongside Kaden Elliss at inside linebacker.
Practice squad players participate in all team activities except for games. However, each NFL team can elevate two practice squad members to the active roster for game day.
Evans has been out of the NFL since December 27, 2023, when the Dallas Cowboys waived him to make room for offensive tackle Matt Waletzko, who was returning from injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. In 2023, Evans appeared in nine games for Dallas, participating in 71 defensive snaps and 79 special teams plays.
During his time with Atlanta in 2022, Evans logged 1,104 defensive snaps and ranked seventh in the NFL in tackles. After becoming an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2023, he remained unsigned until September 12, 2023, when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad but was released after just four days.
The Cowboys later signed him to their practice squad on October 12, 2023, following an injury to linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. After three games as a practice squad elevation, Evans was added to the active roster on November 18 when Vander Esch was placed on injured reserve.
A first-round draft pick from Alabama’s 2017 national championship team, Evans played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before signing with the Falcons in 2022. He was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A Lineman of the Year in 2013 and earned first-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association in 2017.
Leave a Reply