The Atlanta Falcons re-signed 36-year-old LB Mike Peterson on Monday afternoon in an effort to fortify the team’s defensive depth, which has taken a recent hit. Peterson was with the team for the past three years, and when LB Lofa Tatupu injured his pectoral muscle last Thursday lifting weights, re-signing Peterson became a legitimate option, despite his age and declining production.
Aside from the injury to Tatupu, the Falcons recently waived LB Matt Hansen due to a “non-football related injury,” according to the team. Peterson, a former second-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, played 15 games last year, making 24 tackles and one interception.
The Falcons lost LB Curtis Lofton this offseason to free agency and were keen to let Tatupu and second-year special teams star Akeem Dent battle for the position. The Falcons will now be forced to use Dent in a starting role instead of easing him into the position, as they had hoped to do. Atlanta will rely on emerging star Sean Weatherspoon, who logged 127 tackles last season and four sacks, to steady the linebacking crew.
Tatupu, whose injury was deemed serious by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, was expected to visit famed sports medicine doctor James Andrews on Monday.
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