What the Falcons' Week 3 snap counts say about this team's plans in 2026

The Atlanta Falcons' 35-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers was their most promising performance of the 2026 season, but also their most telling, because with Michael Penix Jr. back, their snap counts were more indicative of how this team actually wants to run things.

But this was more prevalent for a Falcons' defense that locked down Jordan Love and the Packers at Lambeau Field.

Fan favorite Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s base odd-front 3-4 defense has to list a “starter”, but it’s a 50/50 split between Gervon Dexter Sr. and Maason Smith. Through three weeks, the offseason additions have 106 (Dexter) and 109 (Smith) snaps.

Brandon Dorlus: 43 snaps (65% of total)
Maason Smith: 34 (52%)
Gervon Dexter: 30 (45%)
LaCale London: 19 (29%)
Zach Harrison: 19 (29%)

Diving into what the Falcons' snap counts meant from Thursday night

44 snaps over the last two weeks since being cut, resigned to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster, Zach Harrison’s blocked field goal was a turning point in the game. He needs to be here to stay. In a similar situation as far as logging time on the practice squad as a former 3rd round pick of the Falcons, Bralen Trice saw 32% of the defensive snaps compared to his 21% in Week 1. This being his second elevation from the practice squad leaves him with just one more this season. Does he hang around on the 53? 

Veteran Za’Darius Smith played for the Packers from 2019-2021. In his homecoming, he saw his continual increase of snap share as he gets in better football shape off of injury. 24% to 42% to 50% in Week 3 is well deserved for his leadership and team-leading 2.5 sacks.

Cameron Thomas: 45 snaps (68% of total)
Za’Darius Smith: 33 (50%)
Bralen Trice: 21 (32%)
Yasir Abdullah: 15 (23%)
Jared Ivey: 8 (12%)

One gradual “switch” in this group has been the majority of snaps between waiver claims Yasir Abdullah and Jared Ivey siding with Abdullah since Week 1. With the league recognized dominant play of the two large interior defensive lineman (Smith & Dexter), Abdullah’s superior speed to Ivey, more of a traditional run stopper, has been able to be utilized.

From a schematic standpoint, it would be fascinating to hear Ulbrich’s logic in flipping rookie linebackers Kendal Daniels (67%, 62%, 38%) and Harold Perkins Jr. (34%, 39%, 65%). Parallel in theory to Abdullah/Ivey, Perkins’s superior speed in coverage to the thumper Daniels earned favor of the staff this week against an injury-ridden, poor performing offensive line and run game of the Packers.

Divine Deablo: 66 snaps (100% of total)
Kendal Daniels: 25 (38%)
Harold Perkins Jr.: 43 (65%)

Though we may not like it, the Falcons are obviously bringing rookie WR Zachariah Branch along slowly as far as his receiving snaps, not punt returns. Branch has seen a 30%, 20%, and 18% snap share across three weeks. He (45 snaps) frankly hasn’t been close to WR3 Olamide Zaccheaus (72 snaps) and somewhat surprisingly, Chris Blair (57 snaps).

Drake London: 66 snaps (93% of total)
Jahan Dotson: 47 (66%)
Olamide Zaccheaus: 24 (34%)
Chris Blair: 13 (18%)
Zachariah Branch: 13 (18%)

Branch isn’t the only 2026 NFL Draft choice with huge upside, but being brought along slowly by the staff. Avieon Terrell has played as well as any through limited snaps (34%, 39%, 20%).

C.J. Henderson: 63 (95%)
Mike Hughes: 56 (85%)
Avieon Terrell: 13 (20%)

A.J. Terrell’s replacement since injury, C.J. Henderson, is the talk of the town for how well he has performed the last two weeks. In that span, he’s been the best performing defensive back on the team. Frankly, the 2020 NFL Draft 9th overall pick is performing to the point of retaining CB2 over Mike Hughes once Terrell (16th pick in 2020) returns in a few weeks.

Darth Vader on Monday Night Football in New Orleans will be the best example yet of where the roster’s depth chart stands now and going forward.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow