Special teams matter, and the Atlanta Falcons are continuing to bolster the depth chart, as the team announced on Tuesday a deal to bring back a key contributor in the game’s third phase — KhaDarel Hodge.
The 27-year-old returns to Atlanta after logging over 200 yards and a score on 13 receptions in his first season with the Falcons. He was actually the fifth-leading receiver on the team, but most of his value lies on special teams, where he lined up as a gunner on punt coverage, recording a team-leading seven tackles.
He may never be more than a reserve receiver. Before Atlanta, he had stops in Detroit and Cleveland for three seasons and Los Angeles with the Rams prior to that, but he’s never been more than a special teams contributor. However, those are valuable niches in the NFL.
There are plenty of veterans who never log snaps outside of special teams. Generally, if you’re good in the game’s third phase and on third downs, you can stick around in this league for a long time.
Congratulations to KhaDarel Hodge. Welcome back to Atlanta!
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