The Falcons have not had a productive return game in years, which is partly a function of shifting rules on kickoffs and partly a result of having neither the personnel nor the will to build one. The last time Atlanta had over 270 yards in a season from a punt returner was 2016 and the last time they cleared 800 yards from a kick returner was 2017, which are arbitrary numbers but also slot neatly in the top 20 such seasons in franchise history. That’s part of a larger leaguewide trend that has been accelerating in recent years, as the last time a single player had 40 kick returns in a season was in 2018.
The Falcons may actually have a returner battle worth watching in 2021
