Between Divine Deablo and rookies Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr., it's fairly obvious the linebacker roo has become one of the strengths of this NFL roster. They're the ones playing the most, and then behind them is Christian Harris and later Josh Woods, who mostly plays on special teams.
Every single team needs those guys near the bottom of the depth chart to step up as special teamers, and Woods has been that guy for three years now. But it seems like his standing may not be that safe because the Falcons are starting to look at external linebacker options to play specials.
According to ESPN's Marc Raimondi, Atlanta signed former third-round pick Brian Asamoah II to the practice squad yesterday after a tryout on Tuesday. The signing did not require a corresponding move since the Falcons had an open roster spot after promoting Zach Harrison to the active roster last week, but Asamoah feels like direct competition for Woods.
The veteran is skating on thin ice. In the season opener against the Steelers, third-round rookie Zachariah Branch had a 66-yard kick return that was called back by a holding call against Woods. And he was called for another holding in the Falcons' Week 3 win over the Green Bay Packers last week.
The Atlanta Falcons signed former third-round pick Brian Asamoah to their practice squad
Asamoah was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted him with the 66th overall pick. However, he spent just three seasons in Minnesota, where he appeared in 50 games and did not make a single start at linebacker because he mostly played on special teams.
Prior to ending up in Atlanta, Asamoah had stints on the Raiders' and Bengals' practice squad in 2025, but only made game-day appearances in Cincinnati--where he appeared in four games last season before being placed on IR with a knee injury. And he hadn't received another NFL shot until now.
The 26-year-old is four years younger than Woods (who turned 30 in July), he's a good athlete, and that could make him an interesting player for Jeff Ulbrich to grow on the practice squad. He won't have to play a ton, so they can just let him learn the system and make plays on specials once ready. I mean, he has nearly 600 career special teams snaps to his name and just 60 defensive snaps.
The former Oklahoma standout has good size at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds and given the special teams operations haven't been smooth under new STC Craig Aukerman, it's worth figuring out with some better blocking with smooth things over for both Olamide Zaccheus amd Brian Robinson Jr.
Despite having a good summer, Josh Woods is a player who is only on the active 53 right now because JD Bertrand is on IR, but now that he could be nearing a return, his spot was in jeopardy anyways, but the signing of Brian Asamoah may mean that he's in more immediate danger now.
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