The Atlanta Falcons did not take a quarterback on Thursday night, but it has signed one anyway.
According to a report from ESPN’s Field Yates, the Falcons have acquired former Alabama signal-caller AJ McCarron to serve as Matt Ryan’s backup. McCarron, 30, has played with the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, and the Houston Texans.
He spent the last two seasons with the Texans as Deshaun Watson’s backup.
The Falcons have signed former Texans and Bengals QB AJ McCarron. Matt Ryan’s new back-up.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 30, 2021
McCarron has a one-year deal with the Falcons.
He was taken in the fifth round (No. 164 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
He was a three-time BCS National Champion at Alabama, including twice as the starting quarterback. McCarron was an All-American, Maxwell Award winner, and Johnny Unitas Award winner in 2013. He finished runner-up to Jameis Winston in the Heisman Trophy voting that year. McCarron finished his career as the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader for passing yards (9,019) and touchdowns (77). He holds the record for yards, but Tua Tagovailoa (87) has surpassed the Mobile (Ala.) native for scores.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
