Falcons make final cuts to set 53-man roster for opener

Updated Sep. 5, 2020 5:09 p.m. ET

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ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons cut former first-round pick Laquon Treadwell and two quarterbacks Saturday as they got down to the 53-man roster limit for the regular season.

Treadwell was the 23rd overall choice of the Vikings in 2016, but has yet to make much of an impact in the NFL. He played in 53 games with Minnesota, including 16 starts, and had 65 catches for 701 yards and two touchdowns before the team let him go after four seasons.

in March.

“Although my time here was short it definitely was worth it,” Treadwell wrote on Twitter. “Great team, great city, great coaches! Take all my loses like a man."

The Falcons were left with two quarterbacks on the roster after cutting Kurt Benkert and recently signed Kyle Lauletta. Matt Ryan is heading into his 13th season as the starter, while 39-year-old Matt Schaub remains the backup.

There has been speculation that the Falcons might be interested in Josh Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He was traded after only one season with the Arizona Cardinals and , with the Miami Dolphins.

Benkert was on the practice squad in 2018 and missed all of last season after sustaining a toe injury during the preseason.

“One way or another I am good and I am blessed," Benkert said on Twitter. "It’s a marathon that I won’t stop running for."

The Falcons also cut offensive linemen Ka’John Armstrong, Justin Gooseberry, Sean Harlow and Evin Ksiezarczyk; receivers Devin Gray, Juwan Green, Jalen McCleskey and Chris Rowland; tight end Jared Pinkney; running backs Mikey Daniel and Craig Reynolds; defensive lineman Hinwa Allieu, Austin Edwards and Sailosi Latu; linebackers Edmond Robinson and Ray Wilborn; cornerbacks Delrick Abrams, Tyler Hall and Josh Hawkins; and safeties Jamal Carter, Chris Cooper and J.J. Wilcox. Tight end Khari Lee had already been released with an injury settlement.

Defensive end Steven Means is on the COVID-19 list and doesn't count against the 53-man roster. Cornerback Jordan Miller will spend the first three games on the suspended list as he completes his punishment for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy late last season.

All six of Atlanta's 2020 draft picks made the 53-man roster.

The Falcons open the season Sept. 13 at home against the Seattle Seahawks.

A look at the 53-man roster, which will be augmented by a practice squad that has increased to 16 players because of the coronavirus pandemic:

OFFENSE

Linemen: James Carpenter, Matt Gono, Matt Hennessey, Chris Lindstrom, Alex Mack, Jake Matthews, Justin McCray. Kaleb McGary, John Wetzel.

Receivers: Christian Blake, Russell Gage, Julio Jones, Brandon Powell, Calvin Ridley, Olamide Zaccheaus.

Tight Ends: Jaeden Graham, Hayden Hurst, Luke Stocker.

Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub.

Running Backs: Todd Gurley, Brian Hill, Qadree Ollison, Ito Smith, Keith Smith.

DEFENSE

Ends: Allen Bailey, Dante Fowler Jr., Charles Harris, Takkarist McKinley, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner.

Tackles: John Cominsky, Marlon Davidson, Tyeler Davison, Grady Jarrett, Deadrin Senat.

Linebackers: Deone Bucannon, Deion Jones, Foyesade Oluokun, LaRoy Reynolds, Mykal Walker.

Cornerbacks: Darqueze Dennard, Isaiah Oliver, Kendall Sheffield, A.J. Terrell, Blidi Wreh-Wilson.

Safeties: Ricardo Allen, Jaylinn Hawkins, Damontae Kazee, Keanu Neal, Sharrod Neasman.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Younghoe Koo.

Punter: Sterling Hofrichter

Long Snapper: Josh Harris

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963. His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Atlanta Falcons

National Football League

Ito Smith

Qadree Ollison

John Wetzel

Chris Cooper

Jamal Carter

Steven Means

Kaleb McGary

Christian Blake

Russell Gage

Julio Jones

Brandon Powell

Kurt Benkert

Kyle Lauletta

Calvin Ridley

Matt Schaub

Josh Rosen

Devin Gray

Jaeden Graham

Chris Rowland

Mikey Daniel

Luke Stocker

Edmond Robinson

Delrick Abrams Jr.

Hayden Hurst

Keith Smith

Dante Fowler Jr.

Craig Reynolds

Justin McCray

Sean Harlow

James Carpenter

Deadrin Senat

Deone Bucannon

Todd Gurley II

Jacob Tuioti-Mariner

John Cominsky

Josh Hawkins

Allen Bailey

Grady Jarrett

Alex Mack

A.J. Terrell Jr.

Darqueze Dennard

Damontae Kazee

Isaiah Oliver

Younghoe Koo

Matt Gono

Blidi Wreh-Wilson

Ricardo Allen

Keanu Neal

Deion Jones

Kendall Sheffield

Chris Lindstrom

Foyesade Oluokun

Sharrod Neasman

Tyeler Davison

LaRoy Reynolds

Ray Wilborn

Evin Ksiezarczyk

Olamide Zaccheaus

Brian Hill

Matt Ryan

Takk McKinley

Jake Matthews

Minnesota Vikings