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On Monday, the Falcons were forced to drop current punter Dustin Colquitt on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That put Colquitt in danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, again forcing the team to look at replacements.
It looked like the moves were done on Tuesday night when the Falcons signed punter Dom Maggio to the practice squad. If Colquitt was still not cleared to punt on Sunday, Maggio would elevate and fit in for the week.
Thomas Morstead, a punter most notable for briefly kicking for the New York Jets earlier this season, surprisingly announced he was signing with the Falcons just a few hours after Maggio was signed.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to continue my playing career. Thank you Atlanta Falcons I’ll give you everything I have!
— Thomas Morstead (@thomasmorstead) November 23, 2021
I acknowledge that this will pain many of my biggest supporters. All I can say is my love for New Orleans is as strong as ever. #WhoDatForLife pic.twitter.com/uCEDSmYOO3
The punter, who bleeds Jets green and white, showed he still has plenty of boom in his leg at age 35. With a solid showing, he may have a chance to wrap up the starting job for the remainder of the season. Morestead has a past connection with Falcons general Terry Fontenot at a team prior his Jets career.
Compared to Colquitt, Morstead has punted for an extra .5 yards per punt than Colquitt, and is four years his junior. That puts Morstead at 9th overall in punting average this season. His hang time wasn’t half bad either.
Jets punter Thomas Morstead has the 6th best hang time in the NFL so far this year at 4.40. PFF rate him as the 4th best punter so far this year.
— David Wyatt-Hupton (@DWyattHupton) October 4, 2021
Why am I writing this? Because punters are people too #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/BDIpDSBhIh
Morstead completed his time with the Jets ranked the 3rd best punter in the NFL, generally in the top 10 on all of its analytical categories. To sum up, Morstead should be a solid improvement.
Morstead is a strong, steady veteran who has seemingly been an under the radar player prior to signing with the Jets earlier in 2021.
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