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Rookie Ryan draws attention

Falcons rookie Matt Ryan completed 9 of 15 passes and threw a TD against Jacksonville on Saturday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Falcons rookie Matt Ryan completed 9 of 15 passes and threw a TD against Jacksonville on Saturday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith said he wasn’t looking for a tie or a moral victory in his team’s preseason opener against Jacksonville.

Smith was looking for a quarterback, and rookie Matt Ryan provided an impressive opening case that he can be the answer.

Ryan led an 11-play, 74-yard touchdown drive against Jacksonville’s first-team defense in the Jaguars’ 20-17 win over the Falcons on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Fla.

Ryan was 9-of-15 passing for 113 yards and a touchdown, earning compliments from both sidelines.

“He looked poised for a young guy and Mike has to be happy with his quarterback coming out and looking fairly sharp,” said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio.

Smith also noted the poise showed by Ryan, who entered the game after starter Chris Redman played only two series. Redman’s second possession ended with an interception.

“I thought Matt passed the test in terms of poise and execution,” Smith said. “I thought for the first time in an NFL game he was very impressive.”

Atlanta has four quarterbacks competing for three roster spots. Each of the four – Redman, Ryan, Joey Harrington and D.J. Shockley – played about a quarter.

Around the league

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich, choosing the former Jacksonville starter over Daunte Culpepper, to replace backup Charlie Batch, who is out with a broken collarbone. The Steelers also signed veteran punter Mitch Berger to compete for the job after Daniel Sepulveda tore an ACL on the first day of practice. … St. Louis Rams rookie cornerback Justin King, who was competing for a starting job, is out for the season after he tore a ligament in his left big toe in Saturday night’s preseason opener against Tennessee. … The San Francisco 49ers waived veteran linebacker Brandon Moore, opening a roster spot that could go to two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes. Spikes, a free agent, spent 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. His season with the Eagles last year ended with a torn rotator cuff in the 14th game. He finished with 85 tackles, including 63 solo stops, and one sack.