5 Falcons players the Carolina Panthers must keep quiet in Week 8
By Jason Huber
Kyle Pitts – TE
It took four games, but rookie tight end Kyle Pitts has arrived for the Atlanta Falcons. The fourth-overall pick of this year’s draft is playing just as many expected him to and that’s by dominating.
After having an average start to his NFL career, Pitts had nine receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown in Week 5 across the pond and then had seven catches for 163 yards last week.
Pitts now has the most receiving yards ever through a tight end’s first six games and would be the sure-fire leading NFL Rookie of the Year candidate if Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t having such a strong start with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Florida product entered the 2021 NFL Draft as one of the most hyped tight-end prospects ever. So far he hasn’t shown anything to prove otherwise.
The Carolina Panthers haven’t allowed more than 76 yards in a game to opposing tight ends and have only given up three touchdowns to the position all season. That includes Dalton Schultz having two against them at the Dallas Cowboys.
The thing is, Carolina hasn’t faced a TE like Pitts yet. He’ll certainly get his looks from Matt Ryan and the Panthers secondary has to do whatever they can to stop him.
This would have been easier had Jaycee Horn been available. The cornerback more than held his own against Pitts in college at South Carolina, but that is sadly not the case and others need to step up.