Falcons release Younghoe Koo, sign kicker to 53-man roster

The Atlanta Falcons have released former Pro Bowl kicker Younghoe Koo and signed Parker Romo to their 53-man roster. Koo was benched for the team's 22-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in favor of Romo, who was signed to the practice squad last week.

The decision to bench Koo came after the Falcons' 23-20 Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran kicker missed a potential game-tying field attempt as time expired and nearly missed another attempt that bounced in after hitting the goal post.

Romo, 28, now officially joins the Falcons' roster in time for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. The former Vikings kicker went 5-for-5 on field goals in Week 2 and converted his lone extra point attempt.

Koo, 31, signed with the Falcons midway through the 2019 season, replacing veteran Matt Bryant as the team's starting kicker for the final eight games.

In 2020, Koo made the Pro Bowl after converting on 94.9 percent of his field goal attempts. However, Koo struggled last season, converting on just 73.5 percent of his kicks before going on the injured reserve list.

Check out the team's updated 53-man roster and practice squad ahead of Sunday's game against the Panthers below.

Quarterback (2)

• Michael Penix Jr. (9)
• Kirk Cousins (18)

Running back (3)

• Bijan Robinson (7)
• Tyler Allgeier (25)
• Nathan Carter (38)

Wide Receiver (7)

• Darnell Mooney (1)
• KhaDarel Hodge (4)
• Drake London (5)
• Jamal Agnew (14)
• Ray-Ray McCloud (34)
• Casey Washington (82)
• WR David Sills V (87)

Tight End (4)

• Kyle Pitts (8)
• Feleipe Franks (84)
• Teagan Quitoriano (85)
• Charlie Woerner (89)

Offensive Line (9)

• `Jovaughn Gwyn (52)
• Chris Lindstrom (63)
• Ryan Neuzil (64)
• Matthew Bergeron (65)
• Kyle Hinton (68)
• Jack Nelson (69)
• Jake Matthews (70)
• Elijah Wilkinson (71)
• Michael Jerrell (72)

Defensive line (6)

• Brandon Dorlus (54)
• David Onyemata (90)
• LaCale London (94)
• Zach Harrison (96)
• Ruke Orhorhoro (98)
• Sam Roberts (99)

EDGE (5)

• Jalon Walker (11)
• Arnold Ebiketie (17)
• James Pearce Jr. (27)
• DeAngelo Malone (51)
• Leonard Floyd (56)

ILB (4)

• Divine Deablo (0)
• JD Bertrand (40)
• Josh Woods (42)
• Kaden Elliss (55)

Cornerback (7)

• Dee Alford (20)
• Mike Hughes (21)
• Clark Phillips III (22)
• A.J. Terrell (24)
• Mike Ford (28)
• Billy Bowman Jr. (33)
• Natrone Brooks (35)

Safety (3)

• Jessie Bates III (3)
• DeMarcco Hellams (23)
• Xavier Watts (31)

Specialists (3)

• Parker Romo (39)
• Bradley Pinion (13)
• Liam McCullough (49)

Falcons 16-man practice squad

• RB Carlos Washington (26)
• WR Nick Nash (80)
• CB Cobee Bryant (37)
• QB Easton Stick (12)
• CB C.J. Henderson (30)
• EDGE Khalid Kareem (92)
• DL Kentavius Street (93)
• WR Dylan Drummond (81)
• WR Chris Blair (19)
• TE Joshua Simon (47)
• OL Joshua Gray (67)
• LB Ronnie Harrison (36)
• OL Ryan Hayes (71)
• OL Carter Warren (TBD)
• K Lenny Krieg (46) IPP

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Younghoe Koo cut, Parker Romo signed to roster