Shayne Graham to Falcons: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran kicker Shayne Graham on Thursday and waived linebacker Joplo Bartu, according to the team. 

Graham, 37, was signed to replace Matt Bryant while he nurses a quad injury, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 2005 Pro Bowler has had tenures with nine different NFL teams, last playing for the New Orleans Saints in 2014, where he made 19 of his 22 field-goal attempts. 

Bryant hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, however.

"As we go through the week, what we’ll do is if Matt’s available to play, we will. If not, then we’ll go with Shayne," head coach Dan Quinn said, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN. "Shayne will practice with us today."

Getting this opportunity to return to the NFL is particularly special for Graham this time around, as he told Jay Adams of the Falcons' website:

While he will simply be holding down the fort in Atlanta until Bryant is healthy if he gets a start, he has the opportunity to showcase for NFL teams that he's still a viable kicker and could handle a starting role.

The Falcons certainly need Graham to be consistent if he plays as the team looks to recover from a three-game losing streak that has seen it drop to 6-4 on the season and in a battle to secure a wild-card spot in the NFL playoffs.