Atlanta Falcons president of football Matt Ryan has made his presence felt during the first few weeks of OTAs, and the response from the players has been overwhelmingly positive. For tight end Kyle Pitts, Ryan’s return to Atlanta means a little bit more than it does to some of his teammates.
“I feel a little happier because I know him personally rather than some of these younger guys or rookies, who just know him as Matt Ryan,” Pitts said of Ryan’s return. “I got a chance to play with him but it’s cool to see and have him around the building and just have him pour into everybody.”
Pitts was a rookie during Ryan’s final season with the Falcons in 2021, but he still finished with over 1,000 receiving yards to lead the team. Last season, Pitts nearly matched his impressive rookie campaign with 928 receiving yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
The former top-five pick has struggled with consistency over his five-year NFL career, largely due to Atlanta’s inconsistent quarterback play in the years since Ryan’s departure. Pitts looked more like himself once Michael Penix Jr. entered the lineup.
Penix is battling Tua Tagovailoa for the starting quarterback job this season. While Pitts said he would leave the decision up to his coaches, he called Penix one of his closest friends and praised the QB’s quick return from ACL surgery.
“It’s neat to see,” Pitts said of Penix. “Mike’s one of my closest friends and just to see him go through his rehab and how he attacked it. Everybody thought he wasn’t going to be ready and look at what he’s doing. So it’s great to see. I love to be beside him competing. And I’m eager to see how this thing goes.”
Pitts is under contract with the Falcons for one more season, via the franchise tag. In order to secure the kind of long-term deal he desires, Pitts will need to at least come close to matching last year’s production.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts talks Matt Ryan, Michael Penix