Falcons end preseason woes, kicking worries
The Atlanta Falcons ended a 12- game, preseason losing streak with a 31-12 victory against Jacksonville on Thursday night and seemingly found a solution to their kicking woes.
Atlanta’s previous exhibition victory came Sept. 1, 2016 — a 17-15 win against the Jaguars.
Jacksonville (0- 4) finished winless in the preseason for the first time in franchise history and scored its fewest points (29). The previous low was 59 in 2004.
Veteran kicker Matt Bryant is scheduled to try out for Falcons coaches and front office personnel at the team’s training facility today. Assuming the 44-yearold kicker is healthy, he’s expected to sign on for a 19th NFL season — his 11th with the Falcons.
Bryant and the Falcons parted ways in the offseason, with the veteran leaving Atlanta as the franchise’s leading scorer (1,122 points). His 158 points in 2016 set the team’s singleseason scoring mark.
Even before Giorgio Tavecchio missed his fifth field- goal attempt of the preseason, the Falcons had plans to bring Bryant back.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL » The Browns acquired offensive lineman Wyatt Teller from the Bills. The Browns spent much of the summer trying to fill their right guard spot, and Teller gives them some depth up front. Cleveland sent a fifth- round and sixthround pick in 2020 to Buffalo for Teller and a seventh-round pick in 2021.
• The Packers agreed to send outside linebacker Reggie Gilbert to the Titans in exchange for a conditional 2020 draft pick. The move is pending a physical. Gilbert played all 16 games for Green Bay last season and had 15 QB pressures to rank second on the team.
• The Cardinals traded offensive lineman Korey Cunningham to the Patriots for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft. The move is pending a physical. SUSPENDED HUNT HAS HERNIA SURGERY » Suspended Browns running back Kareem Hunt has undergone surgery for a sports hernia.
Hunt, who will serve an eight-game NFL suspension for two physical off-field altercations while he played for Kansas City, had the operation Thursday. The 24-year- old was sidelined early in training camp with a groin injury. FREE- AGENT RUSSELL COMES OUT AS BISEXUAL » Free agent defensive end Ryan Russell revealed that he is bisexual, telling his story via ESPN.
Currently looking to get back into the league after missing last season with a shoulder injury, Russell said that after he met with an NFL team earlier this month, he told himself, “This is the last time I will ever interview for a job as anything other than my full self.”
“Have I lied to teammates, coaches, trainers, front- office executives and fans about who I am? Not exactly,” Russell continued. “But withholding information is a form of deceit. And I want the next part of my career — and life — steeped in trust and honesty. ... My truth is that I’m a talented football player, a damn good writer, a loving son, an overbearing brother, a caring friend, a loyal lover, and a bisexual man.”
Russell has played in 23 games, starting six, and registered 20 tackles and three sacks. According to Russell, a shoulder injury suffered during the 2017 season limited his performance, led to offseason surgery, and kept him off a roster last season. NECK INJURY COULD END REED’S CAREER » The neck injury sustained by Seahawks cornerback Kalan Reed earlier this month will likely end his NFL career, the player’s agent told NFL Media.