WEDNESDAY’S GAME

an a longtime backup and a former wide receiver carry the rushing attack for the Falcons in 2021?

After their team averaged only 95.8 yards per game and finished 27th in rushing in the NFL last season, the Falcons’ new regime cleared out the running backs’ meeting room over the offseason.

They didn’t re-sign Todd Gurley or Brian Hill. They waited a while and then cut Ito Smith. The remaining back from last season was Qadree Ollison, and he recently was cut and re-signed to the practice squad.

The Falcons revamped the position by signing Mike Davis, a former Stephenson High and South Carolina standout, to a two-year, $5.5 million contract. Davis is with his fifth team and has never been an opening-game starter.

He backed up Carlos Hyde in San Francisco (2015 and 2016), Chris Carson in Seattle (2017 and 2018), David Montgomery in Chicago (2019) and Christian McCaffrey in Carolina (2020).

Also, the Falcons signed special-teams player and former wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in free agency to back up Davis. Patterson, a fourtime Pro Bowler as a kickoff returner, had a career-high 64 carries last season. Wayne Gallman, a former Grayson High and Clemson standout, signed to be the third running back and help on special teams.

When McCaffrey went down to injury early last season, Davis stepped in admirably and finished with 224 touches for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Falcons plan to run the ball often as they return to the outside zone running system they used under former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

CURTIS COMPTON/CURTIS.COMPTON@AJC.COM Former Stephenson High standout Mike Davis is with his fifth team and has never been an opening-game starter. He had 1,015 total yards and eight TDs last season with the Panthers.