Former Atlanta Falcons receiver Russell Gage signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

According to Jeremy Fowler and other league sources, former Atlanta Falcons receiver Russell Gage intends to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Fowler broke the news about the now-former Atlanta Falcon Thursday afternoon. Gage served as the Falcons’ primary wide receiver with the absence of Calvin Ridley in most of the 2021 season.

In 2021, Gage hauled in 66 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns, accounting for an 11.7 average yards per catch. Losing Gage is huge for a franchise that already lacks a starting receiver and needed to bring back Gage.

As of right now, the Atlanta Falcons’ starting wide receiver is Olamide Zaccheaus. With it being obvious that the Falcons need wide receiver help, Terry Fontenot and company will have some work to do ahead of the 2022 season.

Losing Gage to Tom Brady and the Bucs certainly makes the move hurt even more when you consider he joined the division favorite and a hated rival. While Atlanta fans may not have the same hate for Tampa as they do for the Saints, Brady joining the Bucs certainly brings them close.

From Gage’s perspective, it isn’t a bad move to play with an all-time great in Brady and join a team that will have him as the third option. A role he thrived in when the Atlanta Falcons had Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley with Gage as the third option.

Gage will be behind Tampa receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Gronk is likely to come back as well and join Tom Brady yet again leaving Gage one a team’s third or fourth-best corner providing great matchups for a player who finished the season as Atlanta’s number one weapon last year. Losing Gage hurts but Atlanta has plenty of time to recover with great receivers still left on the market and plenty of cap space left to fix the position.