It may not have been pretty, but the LA Chargers took care of business against Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13 to change the trajectory of both teams moving forward. Los Angeles is now is an excellent spot to make the playoffs, while Falcons fans are calling for the team to move on from Cousins after his four-interception game.
Atlanta fans were hoping to see the news prior to Week 14 that the team would be benching Cousins in favor of Michael Penix Jr. ahead of Cousins' revenge game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Falcons have not made that commitment, however, with the moves they have made being disappointing in comparison.
The Falcons obviously do not feel a pressing need to change anything significant after a third loss in a row as Atlanta's only moves are procedural practice squad shuffles. On Tuesday, the Falcons signed a former preseason standout from the team who beat them on Sunday.
Transaction: The Falcons signed running back Elijah Dotson to the practice squad and released kicker Riley Patterson and linebacker Tyreek Maddox-Williams from the practice squad.
— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) December 3, 2024
Falcons sign former preseason stud Elijah Dotson after losing to Chargers
Chargers fans are familiar with Elijah Dotson mostly for his showing in the 2023 preseason. Dotson found the endzone twice in his first preseason game with the Chargers after signing as an undrafted free agent and played well enough to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster.
His efforts were not enough to get him any real playing time in the regular season, however. Even with a thin running back room in Los Angeles, Dotson played in just four games and finished the 2023 season with four carries for six yards. He played 16 total offensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps.
Dotson stuck around in Los Angeles to try and earn a spot on Jim Harbaugh's team this season. He carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards in three preseason games before being waived by the Chargers in late August.
This is the first team Dotson has signed with since being let go by the Chargers in August. Ironically enough, to make room for him the Falcons waived another former Charger, Tyreek Maddox-Williams. Maddox-Williams signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and spent time on the practice squad but never played in a game for the Bolts.
Maddox-Williams lasted just over one full month on the Falcons' practice squad. Dotson is hoping his tenure lasts longer.