Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Bolsters New England's safety corps
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Hawkins has agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Hawkins split the 2023 regular season with the Falcons (six games) and Chargers (10 games) en route to combining for 14 tackles in that span. The 2020 fourth-rounder did rack up 84 tackles and two picks for Atlanta in 2022, but with the Patriots, Hawkins figures to serve as a depth safety behind Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger.
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Chargers' Jaylinn Hawkins: Headed to Los Angeles
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The Chargers claimed Hawkins off waivers Wednesday.
Hawkins will now head to Los Angeles after being waived by the Falcons on Tuesday. The 26-year-old could soon see playing time, with Alohi Gilman dealing with a heel injury.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Solid as first-year starter
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Hawkins produced 84 tackles (45 solo), six pass defenses, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a defensive touchdown across 16 appearances during the 2022 campaign.
After being a rotational piece in 2021, Hawkins earned a starting gig to begin 2022 and made the most of his opportunity by submitting a productive campaign. He missed just one game due to injury and recorded a career-high 84 tackles and six pass defenses. He also notched multiple interceptions for a second straight season and recorded his first career defensive touchdown. Barring an unforeseen change, Hawkins figures to start alongside Richie Grant to open the 2023 campaign, which will be the final year of Hawkins' rookie contract.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: No injury designation
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Hawkins doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Chargers, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hawkins was sidelined for Week 8 due to a concussion he suffered in Week 7, but he was a full participant at each practice during Week 9 prep and is good to go for Sunday. The third-year safety has stepped up as a starter this season, posting 43 tackles, three pass defenses, one interception and one forced fumble across seven appearances.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: May not return
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Hawkins has left Sunday's contest with the Bengals to be evaluated for a head injury, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hawkins will need to enter protocols if he suffered a concussion, which will certainly impact him for the week ahead. While he is out, Dean Marlowe should see extra opportunity.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Could move into starting lineup
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Hawkins could replace Erik Harris (pectoral) as the Falcons' starting safety, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Rothstein reports that Harris is going to need season-ending surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, so Hawkins -- who replaced Harris on Sunday -- is expected to operate as the starting safety for the balance of the season. Hawkins played every defensive snap for Atlanta and recorded three tackles during the Week 14 win over the Panthers.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Available to play Sunday
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Hawkins (ankle) is not on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
The fact that Hawkins didn't appear on the injury report is a positive sign since he was unable to face the Patriots last week. Richie Grant has seen extra snaps with Hawkins out, but all signs point toward him returning to the field this Sunday.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Missing another game
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Hawkins (ankle) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Patriots, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hawkins will be absent for the second consecutive game, though he did manage three limited practices leading up to the game. That should bode well for his potential to return in Week 12 against Jacksonville. Richie Grant has picked up some extra work in Hawkins' absence.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Clear of injury designation
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Hawkins (concussion) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Lions.
The 23-year-old missed the past two games while in the concussion protocol, but he progressed to full practice participation Friday. Hawkins should return to his reserve role in the secondary now that he's healthy.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Back on field, with limitations
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Hawkins (concussion) logged a limited practice session Wednesday, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The fourth-round rookie has been unavailable since exiting Atlanta's Week 4 loss to the Packers with a concussion, but an appearance at practice foreshadows his return as soon as Sunday. Hawkins was not placed on injured reserve, meaning it was likely expected his absence would remain short-term. If he is able to go against the Lions on Sunday, Hawkins will back up Keanu Neal at strong safety in a matchup against the NFL's 22nd-ranked passing attack.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Won't play Sunday
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Hawkins (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Panthers, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Hawkins didn't practice all week after suffering a concussion during Monday's loss to the Packers, so he'll sit out Week 5. The Falcons' secondary is getting healthy otherwise, so expect Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen to start at safety Sunday while Sharrod Neasman rotates in.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: To see more playing time Week 4
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Hawkins can expect to see an increase in defensive usage with Keanu Neal (hamstring) ruled out for the Falcons' Monday night matchup against the Packers, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The fourth-round rookie from Cal has fielded a combined 28 defensive snaps Weeks 1 through 3, but he'll be thrust into a prominent role against Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, who boasts a 67 percent completion rate and a 9:0 TD:INT in the early going of 2020. With Damontae Kazee in place as the starting free safety, Atlanta may have typically been afforded the luxury to shift over veteran Ricardo Allen (elbow) for some work at strong safety, but he has been ruled out for Week 4 as well because of injury.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Off COVID-19 list
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The Falcons activated Hawkins from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Jason Butt of The Athletic reports.
Hawkins will count against Atlanta's offseason roster again and is now eligible to join teammates at the early portion of camp. The rookie fourth-round pick could compete for depth snaps when practices ramp up mid-August.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Added by Atlanta in fourth round
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The Falcons selected Hawkins in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 134th overall.
Hawkins initially joined California as four-star recruit at cornerback before transitioning to safety in 2016, and he wrapped up his collegiate career with a solid 56 total tackles, two sacks and three interceptions as a senior. Strong instincts and ball skills are Hawkins' strongest traits, but an immediate lack of anticipation and athleticism in coverage could lead to him immediately slotting in on special teams in Atlanta.
