Falcons RB Avery Williams Tears ACL; Cordarrelle Patterson Steps Up?

With the Atlanta Falcons losing returner Avery Williams, will Cordarrelle Patterson build on his NFL special teams record?

At age 32, is it possible that Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson sees a career resurgence as a returner?

The Falcons veteran is regarded as one of the greatest returners the game has ever seen. His nine kickoff return touchdowns are an all-time NFL record. Following an ACL injury to Atlanta returner Avery Williams, Patterson could be in store for an up-stick in special teams duties.

As a four-time All-Pro, Patterson is undoubtedly up to the task of returning kickoffs. Last season he only returned nine kickoffs, significantly less than the 28.6 returns he’d averaged per season before 2022.

Since joining Atlanta, the past two seasons, Williams has averaged roughly 40 total returns per season as both a kick and punt returner on special teams. While Patterson has only ever returned one punt, his 266 kick returns make him a strong candidate to take on Williams vacated kick returns in 2023.

With the Falcons drafting stud running back prospect Bijan Robinson, No. 8 overall in this year’s NFL Draft, and having second-year player Tyler Allgeier as his backup fresh off of his thousand-yard rookie campaign, Patterson’s role in Atlanta seemed murkier than in seasons past. However, increased opportunities for him to be a kick returner could be just what the veteran needed to rejuvenate his career, which had been quiet since being an all-pro in 2020.

Entering 2023, Patterson could prove himself to be a crucial part of the Falcons’ postseason aspirations and potentially become the first player to score 10 or more touchdowns on kickoff returns.

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