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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: Austin Hooper #81 of the New England Patriots looks on during Super Bowl LX Opening Night at the San Jose McNairy Convention Center on February 02, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Theron W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Falcons headed into halftime with a 14-9 lead over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
Most of the usual suspects were involved in the action, including Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
In fact only one notable name on offense had yet to touch the ball: Austin Hooper.
Hooper, who is back with the Falcons after making the Super Bowl with the Patriots last season, is far from his peak.
But he’s also a player that Falcons fans expect to do something every week.
And during halftime against the Ravens, Hooper was being ejected.
Is Austin Hooper playing tonight?
Yes, Hooper is active and playing for the Falcons on Sunday Night Football.
He hasn’t been involved in anything football-wise in the first half.
He has no official targets, although he has run a few pass routes.
The Falcons threw passes to only four players in the first half: Robinson, London, Pitts and Jahan Dotson.
Hooper isn’t a big part of the gameplan anymore, and he’s also got a strange role on the TE depth chart.
falcons tee depth chart
Hooper is actually the TE4 on the depth chart in some ways.
That’s not necessarily his role in the passing game, but as far as overall playing time, that’s what works for him these days.
For example, in Week 4, Hooper received the fourth-most snaps of the Falcons tight ends.
Pitts is clearly the top option in the passing game, but the Falcons use two others – Charlie Woerner and Nick Muse – primarily as blockers.
This means that Hooper does not get on the field much. When the Falcons want their TEs to block, they turn to Woerner and Muse. When they want someone in that shape, they look to Pitts.
Hopper is left to pick up the scrap.
Michael Penix Jr. has shown he can throw to Hooper in the red zone this season, and there may still be a look or two for the veteran tight end outside of halftime.
But with Pitts having one of the better stretches of the season so far, the Falcons don’t need to throw in a different tight end. If Pitts gets a chance it’s certainly the best outcome for Atlanta. It just means that Hopper gets left out in the rain.
billy heyne Billy Hayne is a heavy contributor focusing on the NFL and MLB. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who spent his senior year following Jim Boeheim’s basketball team across the country. His reporting work also includes extensive work for The Sporting News, the Sandusky Register and the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Adventures in sports writing have also led to personal coverage of the Buffalo Sabres, Cleveland Guardians, the U.S. men’s national soccer team and numerous minor league baseball stories. More about Billy Hayne