Falcons rookie Troy Andersen supplants Mykal Walker as starter

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The Falcons released their Week 16 depth chart ahead of the team’s tilt against the Ravens in Baltimore. And for the most part, these are never interesting. But this week is different. Troy Andersen has officially supplanted Mykal Walker as the defense’s starting linebacker next to Rashaan Evans.

Andersen has started two games this season, but the Week 6 start against the 49ers was due to injuries. However, the same cannot be said for last week’s game in New Orleans. The Falcons rookie got the start over a healthy Walker.

Andersen has slowly been integrated into games, notching more than 40% of defensive snaps just once before the last month, where he’s posted three straight weeks with more. Andersen’s game against the Saints was a bag of mixed results. The Montana State product flashed in the run game, displaying the elite physical ability scouts raved about. But there were moments (most of the time) where Andersen looked like a rookie.

I’m curious to know if this is an indictment on Mykal Walker, who has struggled this season, or confidence in Troy Andersen. When a team invests a second-round pick in a player, they usually get the benefit of the doubt.

Below is the Falcons’ full depth chart via the team’s website.

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

Falcons Depth Chart
Position Starter Backup Reserve Reserve Reserve
DL Grady Jarrett Timothy Horne
DL Abdullah Anderson Jalen Dalton
DL Matt Dickerson Jaleel Johnson
OLB Adetokunbo Ogundeji Arnold Ebiketie
ILB Troy Andersen Mykal Walker
ILB Rashaan Evans Nick Kwiatkoski
OLB Lorenzo Carter DeAngelo Malone
CB A.J. Terrell Isaiah Oliver Mike Ford Rashad Fenton
S Richie Grant Erik Harris
S Jaylinn Hawkins Jovante Moffatt
CB Darren Hall Dee Alford Cornell Armstrong

SPECIAL TEAMS

Falcons Depth Chart
Position Starter Backup
K Younghoe Koo
P Bradley Pinion
LS Liam McCullough
H Bradley Pinion
PR Avery Williams
KOR Cordarrelle Patterson -OR- Avery Williams

Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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