Falcons Sign UDFA FB to Practice Squad; Future Run Blocker?

Clint Ratkovich tore his ACL during the pre-draft process. Now, he's on board with the Atlanta Falcons.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 27, 2022

The Atlanta Falcons are adding a unique player to the practice squad Tuesday.

According to NFL Network, the team is signing undrafted free agent Clint Ratkovich to the practice squad.

Ratkovich spent three seasons from 2017-19 with the Western Illinois Leathernecks before sitting out of 2020 and playing the 2021 campaign with the Northern Illinois Huskies.

During his time at Northern Illinois, Ratkovich burst onto the scene. After playing in limited action at Western Illinois, Ratkovich came out of nowhere in 2021, scoring 14 touchdowns.

Ratkovich tore his ACL shortly after the season during a workout, which prevented him from joining a team after the 2022 NFL Draft. However, teams have been keeping tabs on him, including the Falcons, who have given him his first NFL contract just before the end of the season.

The Falcons have committed to running the football as part of their identity, so signing a fullback - despite it becoming a dying position in the league - fits right on brand for Atlanta.

Ratkovich likely won't play in 2022, but with current fullback Keith Smith, 30, testing free agency this spring, there's a path for him to become a key contributor for the Falcons next season.

Follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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Published Dec 27, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.