Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Has 'Enormous' Impact in Win Over Houston Texans

The Atlanta Falcons saw some key contributions from tight end Kyle Pitts in Sunday's massive win over the Houston Texans.

Much has been made about quarterback Desmond Ridder's performance in the Atlanta Falcons' 21-19 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, but one of his targets in the passing game also seemed to return to form in the critical game.

Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts hauled in seven receptions for 87 yards on Sunday afternoon, including one catch that went for 20 yards. Pitts didn't find the end zone in the game, but after dealing with injuries prior to this season, he received some praise from head coach Arthur Smith following his performance.

“I said this a million times. It's a long journey back," Smith said. "Everybody is different. And when it clicks, it clicks, you know. See how he feels this week. It's not -- people forget, you get calloused to the fact that some of these injuries these guys come back from, I mean, I know they look like superheroes sometimes, but they are human. And it was great to see it. He got into a rhythm, and he made some enormous plays for us.”

Oct 8, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman (53) defends a pass intended for Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium / © Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Pitts was a huge addition to the Falcons' roster in 2021 after putting up monster numbers with the Florida Gators in college. He played in 17 games in the 2021 season, accumulating over 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie season and earning a selection to the Pro Bowl. Injuries, however, shortened his season in 2022, forcing him to only see action in 10 games and cutting his yardage total to 356.

The impact of a strong tight end on a young quarterback cannot be overstated. If the Falcons offense hopes to reach its potential this season, the reemergence of Pitts alongside names like Ridder and running back Bijan Robinson will be key.

Perhaps Sunday afternoon was the first step in that direction.