Box scores tell you what happened. Snap counts tell you what a coaching staff actually believes. Following the Atlanta Falcons’ 34-3 spanking from the Carolina Panthers, what changed or remained the same from our Week 1 look at the snap counts versus the Steelers?
When looking at Jeff Ulbrich’s base odd-front 3-4 defense, the depth chart has to list a “starter”, but it’s a 50/50 split now and going forward between Gervon Dexter Sr. and Maason Smith. Through two weeks, the offseason additions have 76 (Dexter) and 75 (Smith) snaps.
And given Dexter logged six pressures in his first breakout game as a Falcon, it's safe to say he'll continue to play a key role for Atlanta's attack front.
What did we learn from the Atlanta Falcons' Week 2 snap counts?
Gervon Dexter: 37 snaps (56% of total)
Maason Smith: 37 (56%)
LaCale London: 26 (39%)
Brandon Dorlus: 25 (38%) (Down due to blowout)
Zach Harrison: 25 (38%)
Congratulations are due to Zach Harrison elevated from the practice squad and hanging with the group at 25 snaps. Falcons fans who were caught in the frenzy of having cut Harrison initially can take that small positive in a sea of despair.
As far as the edge rushers, it’s who is not featured on the snap count, even in a blowout loss, that is a start to the telling of the tale. After logging his first snaps (21% in Week One) in his injury-ridden three seasons in Atlanta, Bralen Trice did not see the field. On the other hand, Za’Darius Smith nearly doubled his playing time this week and has been the best-performing player on the defense through two weeks, starting with his 2.5 sacks. Yasir Abdulah is a result of getting smoked and getting him some garbage-time reps vs exhausting veteran starters. Would not read into that one as much with Jared Ivey having played substantially more in a close Week 1 game.
All love always to Jalon Walker, but Falcons would be 0-2 even if he wasn’t hurt. He couldn’t be playing better than Za’Darius Smith https://t.co/OIolKJZgFD pic.twitter.com/b4J3zUjOS9
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) September 21, 2026
Cameron Thomas: 39 snaps (59% of total)
Yasir Abdullah: 30 (45%)
Za’Darius Smith: 28 (42%)
Jared Ivey: 24 (36%)
Samson Ebukam: 18 (27%)
Samson Ebukam ranked third in the NFL in pass rush win rate (33%), and Smith ranked fifth (30%).
As far as the secondary, the only note is rookie Avieon Terrell swapping with Sydney Brown as far as majority of the snaps. It makes sense considering to my vantage point, Terrell has been the best performer in the secondary thus far this year.
CB Mike Hughes: 66 snaps (100% of total)
S Xavier Watts: 63 (95%)
S Jessie Bates III: 62 (94%)
CB C.J. Henderson: 60 (91%) (in place of A.J. Terrell)
NB Avieon Terrell: 26 (39%)
NB Sydney Brown 18 (27%)
CB A.J. Terrell: 6 (9%) (injured)
S DeMarcco Hellams: 4 (6%)
Off-ball linebacker alongside Divine Deablo saw more confirmation that Kendal Daniels is set to get about ⅔ of the snaps, while fellow rookie Harold Perkins Jr. handles the other ⅓. That LB3 competition between Harold Perkins Jr. and Christian Harris was not as close as many speculated.
Divine Deablo: 54 snaps (82% of total)
Kendal Daniels: 41 (62%)
Harold Perkins Jr.: 26 (39%)
Josh Woods: 7 (11%)
Christian Harris: 4 (6%)
Again acknowledging it was a blowout, even so, rookie WR/KR Zachariah Branch is being brought along slowly on offense. Logic would think his affinity for quick screens and yards after the catch would have served as a security blanket for Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. 32 snaps through two games says that was not in the cards ahead of a potential Michael Penix Jr. return at QB.
Jahan Dotson 52 snaps (75% of total)
Drake London 43 (62%)
Chris Blair 34 (49%)
Olamide Zacchaeus 30 (43%)
Zachariah Branch 14 (20%)
Forgive the proclamation that Thursday Night Football in Green Bay versus the Packers is a “must win” in just Week Three, but it is, and will add to the sample size of snap count answers to the units seeking progressive answers.
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