The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ryan Allen signs, becomes Falcons’ fifth punter of this season
Ryan Allen, who will be the Falcons’ fifth punter of the season, was signed by the team Monday. Allen, 29, spent the past six seasons with the Patriots and played in every game from 2013-18, averaging 45.3 yards over 409 punts. The Falcons replaced punter Kasey Redfern, released last week. Redfern was signed before the Arizona game Oct. 13 and played in three games, averaging 41.2 yards on nine punts.
The Falcons also promoted DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Monday.
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons returned from the bye week with a shuffled coaching staff. Head coach Dan Quinn announced three changes Monday as the team begins the second half of the season after a 1-7 start.
Raheem Morris, who was wide receivers coach, will switch back to the defensive side as an additional secondary coach. Morris will work with Jerome Henderson, the defensive passing game coordinator, and Doug Mallory, the defensive backs coach.
Dave Brock, who had been the running backs coach, was moved back to his old position of wide receivers coach and Bernie Parmalee, an offensive assistant and assistant special teams coach, was moved back to his old position of running backs coach. “We had a lot of things to evaluate and one of those was on the coaching side,” Quinn said Monday.
“I think as a DB group, we are looking for anything that will help,” free safety Ricardo Allen said. “I just want to win. If it helps us and it helps everywhere I’m all for it.”
The Falcons’ secondary has blown several coverages and missed many tackles that have led to explosive plays for opponents. The defense has given up 31 pass plays for 20 yards or more and 19 touchdown passes.
“We felt that was a spot that needed our attention,” Quinn said.
Quinn, who started the season serving as the team’s defensive coordinator in addition to his head coaching duties, also said that linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich has been calling most of the defensive plays during the past three games.
Injury updates: Quarterback Matt Ryan (ankle) is expected to return Sunday from the right ankle sprain that caused him to miss the Falcons’ last game — snapping a streak of 163 consecutive starts — but he was held out of Monday’s practice.
Cornerback Desmond Trufant (turf toe) and defensive tackle John Cominsky (ankle) are expected back at practice this week. They took part in the walk-through during the open media portion of practice Monday. Ryan was not on the field but was seen later in the locker room.
“The good news is a lot of those guys made good progress” with their injuries, Quinn said. “The guys with the lingering injuries, we held them just to give them a couple more days of treatment.”
Matt Schaub started in the 27-20 loss to Seattle and passed for 460 yards. In seven starts, Ryan has completed 202 of 285 passes (70.9%) for 2,170 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has a passer rating of 98.7.
Trufant suffered his injury against Houston on Oct. 6. He missed the last three games. Before the bye week, he was running off to the side with trainers, which is normally the first step to returning to practice.