In recent weeks, it's started to look like Christian Harris was falling behind in the Atlanta Falcons' linebacker competition. Rookies Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. have started to take more and more first-team reps in his absence to the point that this trend no longer feels like a happy accident.
Earlier this offseason, Harris looked like the runaway favorite to start at LB2 next to Divine Deablo, but his grip on that job is slowly fading. It's not like he's on the roster bubble or anything yet, but it's obvious he's free-falling down the pecking order despite what the unofficial depth charts might say.
During the Falcons' 34-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the starters didn't play... but Harris did. And not only did he play, he played with the third-team defense while Daniels and JD Bertrand got the start while Perkins and Josh Woods played before him too--but his late entry isn't as bad as we think.
Christian Harris' hopes of being the Falcons' LB2 are still alive and well
All you can do in this league is take advantage of the reps you're given, especially when your job is on the line, and the 25-year-old did just that. In just 15 snaps on defense, 10 of which came in coverage, Christian Harris was one of the best-performing defensive players for Atlanta on Saturday afternoon.
According to Pro Football Focus, Harris recorded a 90.8 PFF grade, which was the highest of all 30 defensive players who took the field for the Dirty Birds. He was one of two players who received a grade above a 90, with the other one being Daniels. How's that for complicating the LB competition?
But here's the thing: it doesn't end with that grade. The 2022 third-round pick also received a team-leading 90.3 coverage grade, but the gap between himself and the rookie was larger this team. So even though he only logged two tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup, he impressed in coverage.
So for all the talk that the Alabama product is falling behind in the Falcons' linebacker competition, this is the sort of performance that closes the gap. While the appeal of some high-upside rookies might tempt Jeff Ulbrich, Harris has the advantage of being a veteran--and that still should matter.
It would be a surprise if Bertrand or Woods passed him on the pecking order. So for all of the talk that the Atlanta Falcons were getting ready to bury Christian Harris, there's no reason to overreact to the order they came in the game given how he capitalized on the opportunity.
So perhaps he does still have a chance to start for this defense.
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