For Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, the theme of 2024 was a new year, but the same story.

Pitts, Atlanta’s supremely talented offensive weapon known as “The Unicorn,” has been tracking production for his 1,000-yard rookie season in 2021 for three years.

The 23-year-old Pitts created a huge offseason buzz among teammates and coaches, who saw a healthy, happy and explosive version of the University of Florida alum as a standout.

But through the first three games of the season, Pitts has only had eight catches for 105 yards and one touchdown. Over 17 games, those numbers would mean 45 catches for 595 yards and five touchdowns – decent, but not No. 4 – good overall.

He only saw 11 targets total.

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Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said it’s hard to say why Pitts didn’t see the volume many expected, but there are many factors at play – some of which are out of Atlanta’s control.

“Coverage can determine so many different things about where football goes,” Robinson said Wednesday. “Of course you want to get the ball in his hands.”

Quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​​​connected with Pitts for a 50-yard gain in last week’s 22-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But Pitts caught only one other pass, a nine-yard pickup in the fourth quarter.

Robinson said the explosive play was huge, both for momentum and for helping the Falcons put points on the board, and Pitts added Friday that he hopes to build on that.

Robinson believes he will.

“He’s going to continue to get the ball as the offense progresses,” Robinson said. “I know there were some opportunities the other night where he could have had more. So he’s doing a great job. He played really fast the other night.”

“I think the more he pays attention to detail and plays as fast as he does, the more naturally the ball will find him.”

Pitts will have another chance for the ball to find him Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Falcons (1-2) host the Saints (2-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

It’s another side to a rivalry that hasn’t been kind to Pitts, who has 11 catches for 138 yards and no scores in five games against the Saints. Atlanta is 1-4 in those contests.

Pitts said he expects strong man coverage from the Saints, meaning it’s up to him to win his matchup – and while he’s struggled statistically with New Orleans in the past, he won’t have anything on his mind on Sunday, what happened in the past.

“Every week is different,” Pitts said. “Because every team has different players, different personnel and different schemes. So just be open every week and every rep (Cousins) will see you.”

The Falcons offense is looking for a breakthrough. Perhaps no player embodies that more than Pitts – and with crucial momentum early in the season in the race for the NFC South title, Atlanta will be hoping for a breakthrough sooner rather than later.