The Falcons lost fullback Bradie Ewing for the season on Thursday night so they signed another fullback on Saturday.
Eight-year veteran Lousaka Polite has joined the team and figures to challenge Mike Cox for playing time at the position. It’s unclear at this point how much the Falcons will be using a fullback on offense, but the fact that they drafted Ewing is a sign that there’s going to be a role for fullbacks in Atlanta. Polite spent last season with the Patriots and he has also played for the Cowboys, Bears and Dolphins since entering the league.
Ewing tore his ACL while playing on special teams against the Ravens in the team’s preseason opener. It’s the second straight year the Falcons have seen a fullback go down to a knee injury after Ovie Mughelli was knocked out of the lineup last season.
The Falcons also signed tight end Chase Coffman. Coffman was a third-round pick of the Bengals in 2009, but never really earned a role on the team. He played in just six games, catching three passes, over three years spent mostly on the practice squad and injured reserve. He signed with Tampa in February, but they released him on Monday. The Falcons have several players vying for third tight end duties in camp, a group Coffman will presumably join when he starts practicing with the team.
Atlanta also announced that they have waived tight end Adam Nissley and punter Dawson Zimmerman.