Japanese WR signs with Falcons

The Falcons signed wide receiver Noriaki Kinoshita, a native of Osaka, Japan, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Kinoshita spent the last three years with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europa and graduated from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Kinoshita had 909 combined net yards with the Admirals this past season, second in NFL Europa.

He was the league’s fourth-leading kick returner with 532 yards on 23 returns for a 23.6 average. As a receiver, Kinoshita finished with 21 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns, which was second-best on the Admirals. In 2006, he earned All-NFLEL honors as he led the league with 19 kickoff returns for 530 yards (27.9).