We know the story of JD Bertrand by now; the Notre Dame product saw the field last season after Divine Deablo's injury, but was quickly benched after proving to be a liability on defense. After that, everyone gave up on him.
However, the Atlanta Falcons' coaching staff isn't ready to do the same. They have shown faith in Bertrand by simply keeping him around when everyone urged them not to, and the early indication is that it was the right decision.
Although the Falcons lost their preseason opener, the former fifth-round pick looked good in his 2026 preseason debut. He made an impact as a defender while continuing to prove his worth as a special teamer.
JD Bertrand quickly saved his roster spot with a strong defensive play
Bertrand is a good enough special teamer to keep around if he proves to be an average defender. Last season, that was anything but the case; he was a liability whom Raheem Morris waited way too long to bench.
Other players on this roster who can provide similar special teams value while developing into a good defender. The Dirty Birds, especially with a new regime, would gladly pick that player. But seeing Bertrand perform as a linebacker was promising. He was flying around, making plays, and putting pressure on the Broncos.
His forced fumble was the highlight of it all. He went downhill and put a strong punch on the football, which was one of just a few highlights this team had over the four quarters. The cherry on top is that Jammie Robinson jumped on top of it and it led to the only Falcons scoring drive of the night.
There was also an early play where he burst through the line and put immediate pressure in the backfield. His special teams ability also showed up, per usual. All that said. it was a night that could revive the career of the 2024 draft pick.
The other interesting part is how the front office has managed the linebacker position. Of course, they lost Jalon Walker for the season, but they also released the speedy, high-upside Troy Andersen because of his injury history. This shows faith in Bertrand.
So maybe the many fans' wish for JD Bertrand to be released isn't a smart one. Giving up on a player this early is a common mistake in the NFL, especially in the media. Players need time to figure everything out, and that can take a few years.
Perhaps we are seeing the breakout of a depth linebacker the Falcons so desperately need.
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