How did former Falcons fare around the NFL

Following former Falcons’ Week 1 performances, several familiar faces came up big in Week 2, particularly Isaiah Oliver.

WR Calvin Ridley

Calvin Ridley followed up a stellar Jaguars debut with a less-than-stellar Week 2. Ridley put up 101 yards and a score on eight catches in Week 1 but only mustered two receptions for 32 yards against the Chiefs. It wasn’t for a lack of targets, though. Trevor Lawrence went Ridley’s way eight times. He did make an otherworldly catch for a 26-yard gain along the sideline to set up a Jacksonville field goal, though.

TE Hayden Hurst

The Falcons squared off with Hurst in the season opener, when he logged 41 yards and a score on five catches. He followed it up with a less productive outing against a stingy Saints defense on Monday Night Football — three catches, 20 yards.

LB Foyesade Oluokun

Foye Oluokun joined the Jaguars a couple of seasons ago and has done nothing but put up gaudy tackle numbers. After recording 12 in Week 1, the Yale product followed it up with another double-digit tackle performance in a loss to the Chiefs.

EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.

Fowler logged a pair of quarterback hits in a dominating performance from the Cowboys’ defense against the Giants. Though he’s in a rotational role behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, Fowler is making the most of his opportunity, contributing two tackles on just 14 snaps against the Jets last week.

CB Isaiah Oliver

Oliver signed with the 49ers this offseason to replace Jimmie Ward as their nickel defender, inking a two-year, $6.75 million deal in March. However, Kyle Shanahan made it clear the job wasn’t set in the stone, and he hasn’t started either of the Niners two contests.

San Francisco began last week with Deommodore Lenoir at nickel cornerback, but eventually, Oliver got onto the field in the second half bumping Deommodore Lenoir outside with Ambry Thomas on the sideline, which is ironically what happened this week. An Ambry Thomas injury forced Lenoir to the outside and Oliver into the nickel role against the Rams.

After recording five tackles against the Steelers, Oliver came up with a pair of huge plays against the Rams, including an interception that turned into a field goal. Moreover, he made an impressive tackle from his nickel spot on a fourth-and-1 attempt by the Rams. I’m not sure how they keep the former Falcons second-round pick on the sidelines for a third week in a row.

DL John Cominsky

The Falcons will face their old friend Cominsky this week. He helped the Lions in an upset win over the Chiefs, logging two tackles, one of which was on third down that kept Patrick Mahomes from scrambling for the first down. However, he looked much less effective against the Seahawks last week. I’m sure he’s going to be eager to face his former team.

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