At this point in the 2025 NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons are basically playing for pride.
On top of starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. being out for the season after undergoing knee surgery, the Falcons are just 4-9 at the time of this writing. They have lost seven of their last nine games, with no real end in sight to their on-field woes. But divisional games are different. Divisional games are an opportunity to spoil a rival’s season and play for pride. That’s the exact opportunity the Falcons have ahead of them in Thursday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It remains to be seen whether they will be entirely healthy for the game, though. (Outside of Penix, obviously.)
Starting tight end Kyle Pitts is listed as questionable for the game with a knee injury. Not having Pitts available, who has 62 catches for 631 yards this season, in a matchup where receiver Drake London has already been ruled out, would be a huge blow to Atlanta’s chances of winning:
Pitts is the Falcons’ second-leading pass-catcher this season. His status for the game may determine whether Atlanta’s offense is coherent enough to pull off an upset of the Buccaneers.
Who is Kyle Pitts’ backup on the Falcons?
Charlie Woerner is listed as Pitts’ backup on the Atlanta depth chart. Woerner is in his sixth NFL season and is a former sixth-round draft pick out of the 2020 NFL Draft.
