Avery Williams

Williams was slated to be Atlanta's primary return man and a depth running back in 2023, but the 2021 fifth-round pick tore his ACL during an offseason workout and underwent season-ending surgery in June. In Williams' absence, Cordarrelle Patterson will presumably take over as the Falcons' primary kick returner, while Mike Hughes and Josh Ali compete for punt-return duties.

Williams was drafted out of Boise State as a defensive back, but as a rookie, he made the biggest impact as a return man, totaling 490 kick-return yards and 152 punt-return yards. The Falcons are hoping to capitalize on Williams' return skills by transitioning him to offense during his second NFL season, similar to how Atlanta revitalized Cordarrelle Patterson's career last year. The move appears to be paying off, as Williams has turned heads at training camp with his ability as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield. However, he likely has a steep learning curve before he's trusted as a third-down option.