NFL Preseason: Let's Go Deep and Look at the Atlanta Falcons WRs

The Atlanta Falcons offense is expected to do big things this year because they have all 11 starters from last year returning.

However, they took a hit in the first week of training camp, as wide receiver Michael Jenkins went down with a shoulder injury in and will miss the remainder of training camp and possibly the first game of the regular season.

This would not be a problem because the Falcons have Brian Finneran returning as well as Harry Douglas coming off a knee injury. And let’s not forget about Eric Weems who had a solid 2009 campaign as well as Kerry Meier, a rookie out of Kansas who the coaches have high hopes for.

But the Falcons took another hit when Meier went down with a knee injury in the second preseason game against the New England Patriots and will miss the entire 2010 season.

So with Jenkins out of action for the reminder of the preseason and Meier out for the entire year, who do the Falcons have at wide receiver position outside of Roddy White? Let’s take a look at the receivers the Falcons have on the roster.

Nobody will doubt Roddy White is an absolute No. 1 receiver and will play a big role in the Falcons passing attack as he did the last three years. He has put up three consecutive 1,000 yard receiving season and has made the Pro Bowl two consecutive years. He will put up the same numbers this year.

Douglass is a guy that had a good 2008 rookie season with 320 receiving yards and one touchdown, but made his hay on special teams as a punt returner with 19 returns for 326 yards and one touchdown. He is slated to be the slot receiver for the Birds where he was effective in ’08.

Finneran has been with the Falcons since 2000 which makes him and center Todd McClure as the longest tenured players on the roster. He doesn’t have a lot of speed and is not a downfield threat. But Finneran has reliable hands and can give the younger receivers advice.

Eric Weems is has been on the Falcons roster since 2007 but came on strong in 2009. He only had six receptions last year, but was a solid kick returner, averaging 25 yards per return. Weems could make the roster as a No. 4 receiver.

Some of the younger receivers that are fighting for a roster spot are Tim Buckley, Andy Strickland, Ryan Wolfe, Troy Bergeron and Brandyn Harvey. Out of those four, Bergeron is the only guy that has any NFL experience is Bergeron who played in one game last year with the Falcons.

Wolfe, Buckley and Harvey were signed as rookie free agents and they have all showed promise over the course of camp. Strickland was on the practice squad last year and saw no playing time.

The fact of the matter is outside of White, the wide receiver position is not that deep for the Falcons. With Jenkins possibly missing the season opener on September 12, it’s could be interesting to see who will step up to claim No. 2 spot. That said, no matter who is the No. 2 receiver on this team, they will be the No. 3 option because Falcons tight end and future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez will always be Ryan’s second option.

But if the Falcons want to be an elite team, Ryan needs another playmaker to step up when it comes to the passing game. If nobody does, expect a huge makeover from the wide receiving corps in 2011.