Josh Ali is WR3 on Atlanta Falcons' first depth chart

Former Kentucky wide receiver Josh Ali didn’t get to work out in front of NFL teams at UK’s Pro Day in April 2022, undergoing knee surgery after a car accident in December. His professional future seemed limited to the CFL, USFL or XFL routes — making an NFL roster highly unlikely.

And then the Atlanta Falcons invited him to rookie minicamp before signing with the team’s practice squad on August 31. He was later elevated to the active roster in Weeks 17 and 18, making his NFL debut and earning one target on 14 total snaps across two games. Atlanta then signed him to a reserve/future contract this past January, retaining his rights for a league minimum contract — he’s set to make $2,695,000 through 2025 with no guaranteed money.

Not bad for a guy seen as a long shot to play in the NFL to begin with. But what if I told you he not only has a real shot to make the Falcons’ 53-man roster this fall, but carve out a role in the rotation?

He was named WR3 in the team’s first depth chart ahead of the preseason.

Top-10 pick Drake London, who racked up 866 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, is WR1 while four-year vet Scotty Miller is WR2. Insert Ali at No. 3.

Mack Hollins, KhaDarel Hodge and Frank Darby make up Nos. 1, 2 and 3 at the other wide receiver spot, with Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith seen as the top tight end options. Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier are RB1 and RB2, respectively, while Desmond Ridder is QB1.

Ali featured on Falcons’ initial depth chart

ESPN’s Michael Rothstein singled out Ali as a surprise offseason standout for the Falcons back in June, making it clear the former Wildcat had put himself in position to make the roster.

“In Atlanta’s wide-open receiver room after Drake London, an almost-unknown player has stood out. Ali, who was on the practice squad last season after suffering a knee injury late in his college career at Kentucky, worked a bunch in 2022 with Falcons starting quarterback Desmond Ridder,” Rothstein said. “That chemistry has shown and Ali has gotten work with the veterans. (That’s) usually a good sign for a player with 14 career snaps and one career target.”

“Will he make the team? It’s unclear. Has he put himself in a potential position out of spring? Quite possibly.”

Connection with Desmond Ridder

What’s been the recipe for success for Ali in Atlanta? His chemistry with Ridder, a Louisville native and Cincinnati alum, has made an impact. The two worked well together as reserves last season and it’s translating to a connection in their expanded roles this summer.

“Any of those times that you have guys that you’re together through a long period of time, whether it’s rookie year (or) scout team, you start to build a relationship and connection with those guys,” Ridder said. “I would definitely say me and Josh have a connection. It started early on with him playing at Kentucky, being from Big Blue Nation, and me giving him crap about all that, but he’s a great player for us.”

Through that Miami heat pic.twitter.com/ywtaW4gJJv

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 8, 2023

Ali played five years at Kentucky, racking up 1,447 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 131 catches across 45 games. Now, against all odds, he’s carving out a solid career in the NFL.