The NFL is not fair. Every year, training camp and preseason standouts fall victim to the league's 53-man roster limit.
And that is certainly the case for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Vinny Anthony II. The undrafted free agent played as well as he could have over the these past few months, but the front office made the difficult decision to release him.
The #Falcons are releasing WR Vinny Anthony, per a source. He had a really nice training camp and made a handful of good plays in practice. Just a crowded room. Likely will be retained on the practice squad.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) August 30, 2026
As ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported, he will most likely clear waivers and land on the practice squad. But I wouldn't completely rule out another team snagging him to be a valuable return man and a depth receiver. Obviously, Ian Cunningham feels those chances are slim because he cannot afford to lose the high-upside receiver.
Falcons are banking on UDFA Vinny Anthony flying under the radar
There were many moments during the preseason when you said, 'wow, this Anthony guy could be a productive players in the pros.' He has shown a wide array of value with his production on offense and explosiveness on special teams.
One of the last memories of the preseason we all have is his 52-yard kick return against the Dolphins on the final drive. He grabbed the ball and flew straight up the field. He finished with seven receptions for 64 yards and five kick returns for 170 yards (34 avg.).
But he ultimately fell victim to the team keeping five wide receivers: Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, Zachariah Branch, and Chris Blair.
Having him in waiting on the practice squad would be huge. In a pinch, the team can promote him when they feel they need him. Once the game ends, they send him back down and are no worse for wear.
Receiver is where you often see that strategy implemented. The Falcons have certainly done that with guys like Blair, Dylan Drummond, Deven Thompkins, and others.
If an emergency happens in the game, which is unlikely considering a few players would have to get injured in one game, the coaching staff can use Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson as de facto receivers.
As for his special teams value, his 34 yards per kick return could play a big part in the Falcons' season. The team averaged a league-worst 22.8 yards, while the New York Jets were first with 29.9 -- that puts Anthony's excellence in perspective.
Obviously, that eye-popping average wouldn't hold in the regular season, but he would certainly be a better option than this team has had in years. So while he was released, I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the former Wisconsin Badger in a Falcons uniform.
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