Falcons TE Parker Hesse returns from practice squad injured reserve

The Atlanta Falcons haven’t fielded quite the caliber of rushing attack this season that we anticipated, considering they added Bijan Robinson to an already talented group. Part of that has been subpar run blocking, especially from Atlanta’s group of tight ends and wide receivers, though they appear to be getting on track a bit in recent weeks.

Perhaps Parker Hesse will be able to help with that. One of the vital cogs in the team’s rushing attack a year ago, Hesse is arguably the best blocking tight end the Falcons have, even though he didn’t make the roster this year. He has just seven snaps in that role this season as a practice squad call-up, but now that he is back from the practice squad injured reserve, perhaps we’ll see him active on gameday again in the near future.

As you’ll see above, Hesse has been activated and re-joins the practice squad after being put on the shelf back on October 3. Over the last month-and-a-half, the Falcons have been leaning heavily on a combination of Kyle Pitts (who has mostly struggled as a blocker), MyCole Pruitt (who has not played up to his career standard as a blocker), Jonnu Smith (ditto), and John FitzPatrick and Tucker Fisk (who have both had their moments). Hesse might get the call-up Sunday against the Saints with the Falcons eager to mash New Orleans into submission, given the caliber of work we know he’s capable of.

Saylors, meanwhile, hits injured reserve after joining the practice squad on October 18 and spending the past month with the Falcons. We may not see him again this year, but he could be a reserve/future signing in the offseason if the Falcons have liked what they saw from him over the last 30-plus days.

Welcome Hesse back, and we’ll see if he’s activated for Sunday’s game.