The Atlanta Falcons will look to avoid a 0-2 start to the NFL season when they visit the Minnesota Vikings for Sunday Night Football. After coming up short against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1, Falcons fans are hoping for a more complete performance this weekend, which means certain players who struggled last week will be under the microscope.
The Vikings showed their offensive potential as second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy led their late-game comeback effort on Monday. The Falcons can't afford to allow him similar opportunities, which is why they need David Onyemata to step up after his season-opening dud.
Falcons DT David Onyemata Is on Thin Ice in Week 2
Onyemata, 32, is in his third season with the Falcons after signing a three-year, $35 million contract as a free agent in 2023. The former University of Manitoba product lived up to the hype in Year 1 of his deal, but his performance regressed last season, leaving Atlanta fans hopeful for a rebound outing against the Buccaneers to begin the campaign.
Instead of standing out for all the right reasons, Onyemata was among the Falcons' worst defenders in Week 1. He only recorded an assisted tackle without doing anything else of note, leading to 29.6 overall and 29.5 run defense grades on Pro Football Focus, which were the fourth- and third-worst marks, respectively, among 143 interior defenders.
It's hard to imagine Onyemata still being on the team had the Falcons not parted ways with Grady Jarrett in the offseason, but it's clear the coaching staff still wanted a veteran in the middle of a young defensive line. Still, it's going to be hard justifying Onyemata's playing time as long as he continues to do more harm than good.
It's safe to say that Sunday night's matchup will be a good test for Onyemata to prove his worth. The Vikings racked up 120 rushing yards and one touchdown on 26 carries against the Chicago Bears last week, and a similar performance could occur at U.S. Bank Stadium if the Falcons' DT doesn't give a better effort.
Although a cut would net $10 million in cap savings this season, per Spotrac, the Falcons likely won't release Onyemata due to the status of their young D-line. Having said that, he is a free agent at the end of the season, meaning they can cut down on his playing time if his struggles persist without it impacting their long-term future at the position.
With Falcons fans ready to scrutinize any mistake he might make, the pressure is on for Onyemata to change the trajectory of his outlook as early as Sunday.