FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced that two players will be limited when preparations begin Wednesday for Sunday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. One was expected. The other was a surprise.

Inside linebacker Nate Landman is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during training camp and has not participated in practice since Aug. 15.

Tight end Kyle Pitts was the unexpected name, as injury was first mentioned on Wednesday. It turns out that Pitts has a hamstring problem. Morris, however, is not worried.

“(He) was out there working out for us the other day and did a really good job,” Morris said. “… He had a hamstring injury or something a couple weeks ago. It really hasn’t affected him too much. He’s been out there working out, doing pretty much everything, and we’re ready to go.”

From the outside, Pitts appeared to be 100% fit throughout training camp, even calling himself a “super rookie” because he finally felt healthy after two years of injury woes. The caveat, however, is that the Falcons haven’t used many starters in their preseason games, so Pitts will get his first real test against real competition on Sunday.

The Falcons drafted Pitts No. 4 in 2021 and he had a stellar rookie season with 1,026 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl invitation. A season-ending knee injury in Week 11 of the 2022 season dashed any hopes of repeating.

Pitts returned in 2023 and totaled 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns, but questions about his health swirled throughout the season. He claimed he was fine, but an Instagram post at the end of the year revealed he was recovering from more than previously known. He underwent MCL and PCL surgeries, not just MCL.

Nevertheless, the Falcons exercised Pitts’ fifth-year option in April.

“It’s definitely a blessing that the people up there still believe in me,” Pitts said. “I’m going to try to show them that I can do something different this year.”

Landman, on the other hand, is a third-year player who burst onto the scene last season when the Falcons needed someone to replace the injured Troy Andersen. Landman played in 16 games in Andersen’s absence, starting 14 of them, and really gave it his all despite his short history of working primarily on special teams. Landman made 110 tackles, forced three fumbles, intercepted three passes, had two sacks and returned a 25-yard interception.

Based on his performance in 2023, Landman was a staple in the 2024 conversation. He, Andersen and Kaden Elliss are all considered viable starters at inside linebacker, so even if Andersen isn’t ready to play by Sunday, the Falcons are still well-positioned at the position.

Landman and Pitts were the only two players whose eligibility was revoked before Wednesday’s practice.

“Other than that,” Morris said, “we’re really healthy and doing really well.”