Falcons add OLB Tuzar Skipper

Atlanta’s options at outside linebacker are varied, but they have basically no proven high-end pass rushers there at all outside of Dante Fowler, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list today and coming off a disappointing season. Given that, it’s not surprising that the Falcons keep adding players to the mix to see if they can strike gold.

The latest is Tuzar Skipper, a former Steelers, Giants and Titans linebacker. He has appeared in 10 games thus far in his two-year career, starting two and posting 8 tackles, a half sack and a fumble recovery. Chiefly, he’s bounced between rosters and practice squads, showing flashes of the pass rushing punch and strength that makes him intriguing, and chipping in on special teams along the way.

Skipper was terrific in the 2019 preseason, which is probably a big part of the reason he made the Steelers 53 man roster out of camp that year. Aaron Freeman was kind enough to share some of his highlights from that year, which will give you an idea of his potential upside.

As is the case with many of the options on the roster, Skipper has a bit of an uphill climb to make it, given that he’s fighting with free agent signings Shareef Miller, George Obinna, and Emmanuel Ellerbee for what probably amounts to 1-2 roster spots. He’s helped by the lack of clear cut reserve options on this team behind a rotation that I expect to include Fowler, rookie Ade Ogundeji, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Steven Means and perhaps John Cominsky, but there’s also not exactly a lot of roster spots available if all those guys make the team. If he can flash in an extended look in camp and preseason—and critically, show some special teams value for Marquice Williams—he might just push his way onto the 53 man roster when the dust settles.