It is time for the Falcons to give up on Qadree Ollison

The Atlanta Falcons have a myriad of roster decisions to make after playing their final preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.  One position the team will have to make a tough decision on is running back as to who to cut and how many backs the team will carry to start the year?

Cordarrelle Patterson is guaranteed a roster spot with Qadree Ollison, Tyler Allgeier, and Damien Williams all competing for roster spots. The right answer for the Falcons is to keep Williams and rookie Allgeier in contributing roles and moving on from Ollison.

Ollison has had an underwhelming preseason and has been a part of Atlanta’s depth at the position over the last two seasons. He isn’t a long-term answer or a player who can contribute at a high level. Allgeier is an unknown whose ceiling appears to be high and Williams is a reliable veteran who can start behind Patterson.

Ollison has only 158-career rushing yards and hasn’t done anything throughout the preseason to suggest he is ready to contribute to this roster. While he had great moments in very brief chances last season Ollison needed to win a role in camp and the preseason and barring a huge game against the Jaguars on Saturday he hasn’t done that.

Atlanta’s backfield will be better off with Williams, Allgeier, and Patterson as the only running backs on the roster. Ollison could be offered a practice squad contract if he fails to catch on with another organization. He is a solid depth piece but not worth a roster spot for a team that is likely going to be passing the ball often in a rebuilding season.  Carrying three running backs is the best move for Atlanta and Ollison should be the odd man out and a player the team will have a chance to bring back in a reserve role.