The Atlanta Falcons announced adding depth at cornerback with the signing of Breon Borders on Monday. But Borders won’t be available for the Falcons during the first two games of the season.
ESPN’s Field Yates reported on Thursday that the NFL suspended Borders for the first two games of the 2023 regular season. The reasoning behind the suspension is currently unknown.
Borders began his career with the then Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2017. After spending most of that season on the Raiders practice squad, he finished the season with the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills had Borders on their roster but made him inactive for the final three regular season games. He made his NFL debut during the team’s AFC Wild Card playoff matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Borders played nine snaps on special teams in the game.
In six NFL seasons, Borders has spent time with 10 different teams — the Raiders, Bills, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears.
He served as a practice squad player in Chicago for most of the 2022 season. Borders dressed for one contest against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.
Borders didn’t play on defense in the matchup, but he lined up for nine snaps on special teams.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot made many additions to the team’s secondary this offseason. At cornerback alone, Atlanta signed Mike Hughes and Tre Flowers in free agency, traded for Jeff Okudah and drafted Clark Phillips.
Borders was projected to give the Falcons another veteran presence at cornerback. He still could, but he won’t be able to make his official debut with his 11th team until Week 3.
Assuming Borders will not appeal his suspension, he will miss the Falcons’ home matchups with the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers on September 10 and September 17, respectively.
