Six RBs make Atlanta's 53-man roster

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - DeAndra Cobb and Marlion Jackson made the final cut as the Atlanta Falcons decided to keep six running backs on the 53-man roster they submitted to the NFL Saturday.

That scenario, however, could change soon as the Falcons see which players become available from other teams. They might release Cobb or Jackson if they decide to add more depth at another position.

Starters Kynan Forney and Matt Lehr are the only guards on the roster. Austin King, who backs up center Todd McClure, could swing outside if necessary, but he has no game experience.

Atlanta cut 18 players and placed two, rookie linebacker Jordan Beck (foot) and guard Steve Herndon (neck), on season-ending injured reserve.

Michael Moore, who won the starting job at left guard entering Week 1 last year, was waived injured. In a 20-17 preseason win Thursday at Miami, Moore reinjured the same shoulder that caused him to end his 2004 season after just one game.

Cobb, a running back from Michigan State, beat out Jason Wright for the No. 3 job behind Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett. The Falcons drafted Cobb in the sixth round in hopes that he would become the primary kickoff returner.

Despite returning one kickoff 101 yards in a preseason loss to Tennessee, Cobb otherwise did little to impress coach Jim Mora, who wants Allen Rossum to continuing filling a role he's held since 2002.

Mora has indicated he wants first-round draft pick Roddy White to return kickoffs, but the former Alabama-Birmingham receiver has missed three weeks with a sprained ankle.

Jackson, after failed tries with the Chicago Bears, New York Jets and Denver Broncos, finally succeeded in earning a job for Week 1 of a regular season. At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, Jackson brings size and speed to special teams. The former Saginaw Valley State standout will back up fullbacks Justin Griffith and Fred McCrary.

The Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles will play a rematch of the last season's NFC title game when they meet Sept. 12 at the Georgia Dome.

After the release earlier this week of receiver Peerless Price, the most surprising cuts Saturday were receiver Cole Magner and safety Cam Newton. With Cobb and seventh-round defensive tackle Darrell Shropshire on the 53-man roster, each of Atlanta's eight draft picks made the team.

Quarterback Michael Vick was among Magner's proponents in training camp, but the former Bowling Green standout struggled in the last two preseason games.

Romby Bryant won the No. 5 job at receiver after falling short at the end of preseason last year in Arizona. The former Tulsa standout backs up Michael Jenkins at flanker with Dez White, Brian Finneran and Roddy White listed 1-2-3 at split end.

Newton lost the fifth safety job to Etric Pruitt, a sixth-round pick who played in just three games last year but finished the preseason with two interceptions.

Junior Glymph, who had a sack last year against San Diego and stayed on the active roster for nine weeks, beat out Khaleed Vaughn for the No. 4 defensive end job behind starters Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith and fourth-round draft pick Chauncey Davis.

Beck's injury cleared room for Antoine Cash to earn a spot at linebacker. Cash, an undrafted rookie, and fifth-round draft choice Michael Boley were teammates last year at Southern Mississippi.

Jonte' Buhl is the No. 5 cornerback behind starters DeAngelo Hall and Jason Webster and primary backups Kevin Mathis and Rossum.

The other players cut were tight end Mark Anelli, receiver Brian Bratton, linebacker Michael Brown, fullback Kevin Dudley, offensive tackle Shawn Draper, defensive tackle Anthony Herron, cornerback Byron Jones, linebacker John Leake, center Mike Mabry, defensive back Shawn Mayer, center Dave Pearson, offensive tackle Jared Peck, receiver Will Pettis and cornerback James Thornton.