Falcons Cut Etheridge; What's Next?

The Atlanta Falcons released linebacker Dorian Etheridge, coach Arthur Smith told reporters Saturday morning. 

Following a productive four-year collegiate career at Louisville, Etheridge caught on with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He appeared in seven games for the Falcons in his rookie season, before being released with an injury settlement last September. He returned to the Falcons organization in October as a member of the practice squad, but wasn't ultimately promoted to the active roster for any games. 

Etheridge was seemingly a casualty of the Falcons signing five-year veteran linebacker Kemoko Turay earlier on Saturday. Turay spent the first four seasons of his professional career with the Indianapolis Colts, who selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He appeared in three games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. In total, Turay has 34 combined tackles, 29 quarterback hits, 12 sacks and seven tackles for a loss in parts of five seasons. 

In addition to Etheridge's release, former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Eddie Goldman won't be with the team, but ESPN's Michael Rothstein notes that it's unclear what the nature of the transaction will be. Goldman retired suddenly last summer less than two weeks after agreeing to join the Falcons. Despite Smith saying that Goldman "looked phenomenal" early in Training Camp, the coach revealed Friday that the defensive tackle was again away from the team and had an uncertain future.