The Atlanta Falcons are officially moving on from one of the more disappointing draft picks of their recent past.
Atlanta announced Friday that linebacker Troy Andersen has been released, ending a four-year run that once came with plenty of expectations.
Andersen was selected by the Falcons with the No. 58 overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Coming out of Montana State, his combination of size, speed and athleticism made him one of the more intriguing linebacker prospects in his class.
Unfortunately, Falcons fans rarely got the opportunity to see that potential consistently translate onto the field.
Injuries became the defining issue of Andersen’s time in Atlanta. He played 17 games as a rookie but appeared in just seven games in 2023 and seven more in 2024 before missing the entire 2025 season while on the physically unable to perform list.
The Falcons even restructured Andersen’s contract in March, seemingly giving the former second-round pick another opportunity to prove himself in 2026.
That opportunity didn’t last very long.
Andersen continued dealing with his knee injury throughout the offseason and had not been able to participate in training camp. Now, Atlanta has decided it can no longer wait for the linebacker to get healthy.
It’s a disappointing ending for a player who once looked like he could become an important piece of Atlanta’s defense.
Andersen finishes his Falcons career with 161 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks across 31 games.
The move also continues what has already been an eventful stretch for Atlanta’s defense. The Falcons recently learned that 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker will miss the entire 2026 season with a torn ACL.
Now another linebacker is gone entirely.
For Andersen, the question becomes whether another NFL team will take a chance on his athletic upside and health.
For Atlanta, it’s another former high draft pick that simply never became what the franchise hoped.
