One of the biggest ongoing concerns for the Atlanta Falcons has been the lack of depth at the receiver position. This has been put on full display with Ray-Ray McCloud jettisoned under mysterious circumstances, and now, star pass catcher Drake London is dealing with an injury. Making it unsurprising that the Falcons opted to add depth to the position, bringing in former Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders receiver K.J. Osborn, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. The pass catcher was signed to a practice squad deal, but easily could join the active roster in Week 13.
Much of this will be determined by how healthy London can get ahead of a trip to New York to take on the Jets. Still, it makes sense to elevate Osborn even if London is able to return to the lineup. With Michael Penix Jr. slated to miss the rest of the season, Kirk Cousins is the starter and has a level of familiarity with the pass catcher.
Osborn and Cousins played together on the Vikings, where the receiver was consistently a secondary target that had his veteran quarterback's trust. As Cousins attempts to settle back into a starting role, there should be a level of comfort in bringing back a familiar target.
Falcons Sign Veteran Receiver Who Has Impressive Resume with Kirk Cousins' Vikings
Osborn's best season was in his second year in 2021 when the pass catcher totaled 655 receiving yards. This was followed up by solid performances in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons, with the receiver managing a combined 15 touchdowns and well over 1,800 receiving yards. This speaks to how much Cousins relied on Osborn and the role that the receiver found within the Minnesota offense.
Since leaving the Vikings, things have imploded with only 57 yards of production a season ago and yet to register a catch this season. Still, it isn't as if Osborn isn't already more qualified than David Sills or Casey Washington, who are playing meaningful roles for the Falcons.
Both receivers are relied on in the starting rotation and have yet to establish themselves as capable NFL pass catchers. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see how quickly Osborn can work his way into the mix for the Falcons. If London is forced to miss another game, it wouldn't be shocking to see a Week 13 elevation.
Cousins needs to have his confidence rebuilt, and that has to be at least a piece of why the Falcons opted to bring in Osborn. The receiver has an established history with the quarterback and can offer the third most pass-catching production at the position behind only London and Darnell Mooney. No question, this is a solid move for the Falcons and one that gives Cousins a chance at familiarity and Osborn a chance to put his career back on track.