4 Falcons players whose stock is pointed up after preseason loss to Jets

2. Jared Bernhardt

Jared Bernhardt has gone from a player that simply was filling out the preseason roster to a guy who deserves a role on this team. Bernhardt has come in and impressed in camp, joint practice, and preseason action. Bernhardt’s success has come out of nowhere and is one of the truly great stories coming out of Atlanta’s preseason.

Bernhardt continued his push for a roster spot against the Jets with two solid kick returns and 3-receptions for 67-receiving yards. Anytime Bernhardt is on the screen his effort and energy stand out for a player who needs one more great performance to lock down a roster spot.

If the Atlanta Falcons are serious about their new mentality Jared Bernhardt is going to make this roster. The Atlanta coaching staff has gone out of their way to discuss that salary and tenure no longer matter in Atlanta it is about what you do on the field and how hard you fight to be there.

While it appears this is all true and not simply the bluster Falcons fans are accustomed to Bernhardt will be an example of how serious Atlanta is about this perspective. He has played at a higher level than players in front of him who have higher salaries and more experience. If Atlanta is serious about ignoring those things and keeping players who have earned a role Bernhardt makes this team.