The Atlanta Falcons were hopeful that transition to new coaching leadership would spark tight end Kyle Pitts and allow him to enjoy a career-best season.
Through four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, that hasn’t come to fruition.
Pitts had the least productive game of his career in the Falcons’ 26-24 Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. It marked the first time that the 23-year-old was held without a catch, even despite Kirk Cousins throwing 35 passes.
What’s more concerning for Pitts’ long-term outlook in Atlanta? His new head coach didn’t seem too concerned about his lack of production when asked whether he wanted to get Pitts more involved in the offense.
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‘He had a couple of targets today. He had a couple of things going out that way,’ Morris told reporters during a postgame news conference. ‘Really for me, stats are for losers, man. I don’t get involved in that stuff.’
What does matter to Morris? For him, it was all about coming away with a victory in a key, divisional rivalry.
‘You go out there, you try to win each game,’ Morris said. ‘And we were able to win it today.’
Atlanta’s win moves them into second place in the NFC South, as they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints.
Whether the Falcons can continue to win without involving Pitts in their game plan is a question that’s still being answered. Cousins seems to have strong chemistry with wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney in the early goings of the season. Pitts has the size and athleticism needed to be a matchup nightmare in the middle of the field. His 1,026-yard rookie season in 2020 showed he is capable of being a high-volume weapon.
Pitts did not comment on his usage after the game, though it is hard to imagine he’s pleased with his output. He has just eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown across four games this season on just 15 targets from Cousins.
