Falcons Promote RB Jerome Smith, Sign S Brandan Bishop To Practice Squad

After the Falcons announced the release of linebacker James Anderson earlier, and shortly thereafter, they announced a pair of corresponding roster moves.

The Falcons have signed RB Jerome Smith to active roster, signed S Brandan Bishop to practice squad, and released LB James Anderson.

— Atlanta_Falcons (@Atlanta_Falcons) December 24, 2014

We're a little late on this move, but everything here makes sense. I hated to see Anderson go given that he was productive just a year ago, but the linebacker play has improved in recent weeks and there were more pressing needs on the roster. I hate to see him released on Christmas Eve, but adding Smith makes sense.

Smith is a rookie UDFA who enjoyed a productive career at Syracuse, and carries a reputation as a plodding but reliable power back. He'll provide depth in Week 17 with Steven Jackson a major question mark for Sunday's tilt against the Panthers. There's a good chance he'll be competing for a gig in the backfield for 2015, so this is an opportunity to get a look at him in game action.

Bishop was a UDFA in 2013 who spent that season with the Vikings. He hadn't found a gig until this one, and the chances of him hanging around for long are pretty slim. Good luck to him, though.

Your thoughts?