The Atlanta Falcons' first preseason game was cut short after a frightening injury to Lions defender Morice Norris. Two teams decided to end the game prematurely in the fourth quarter as Norris was taken to the hospital. Fortunately, the defensive back is in stable condition and is on the road to recovery.
Before the unfortunate incident, the teams played three quarters of football. The scoreline is always secondary in preseason games as the coaching staff and fans are more focused on individual performances. For the Falcons, there were some bright spots, especially on the defensive side of the ball. In fact, one veteran who was on the roster bubble made a strong case to be included in the 53-man roster spot with his performance on Friday.
Khalid Kareem Making a Strong Case to Earn Roster Spot
There were several strong performers for Atlanta against the Lions. Detroit didn't have much of an answer for the Falcons' front seven early in the game as Hendon Hooker struggled immensely under pressure. Josh Woods, Ta'Quon Graham, Arnold Ebiketie, and Brandon Dorlus all had solid moments. Yet, perhaps none helped themselves as much as Khalid Kareem.
Kareem shined once again like he did in the limited opportunities he got last season. In the two games he played for the Falcons last season, the 27-year-old had shown flashes. After spending most of last season on the practice squad, Kareem may be deserving of a role on the 53-man roster this time around.
To continue the momentum he has built in training camp, Kareem had a dominant showing against Detroit's backups. The Falcons' aggressive and physical defense was bolstered by a sack, QB hurry, and two tackles by Kareem. He received a 76.1 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus in the 19 snaps he played.
The Falcons are almost certainly bringing Ebiketie, Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker, and James Pearce Jr. into the final roster. If Atlanta were to include another pass rusher, Kareem should have the advantage over Bralen Trice. There is a chance that both players make it to the final roster, but Kareem's spring and summer performance is quickly turning him into a must-include name for Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.