The Atlanta Falcons have made several roster adjustments before their upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints, following injuries to key players.
Defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. and defensive lineman Zach Harrison were both placed on injured reserve. Bowman suffered an Achilles injury during the team’s Friday walkthrough. Head coach Raheem Morris said, “the injury was not going to be good news” and immediately ruled Bowman out for Sunday’s game. Regarding Harrison, Morris explained that he had a setback with his knee injury and expected him to need further treatment, saying he needed to get it “fixed.”
To fill the open spots on the 53-man roster, inside linebacker Divine Deablo was activated and cornerback Cobee Bryant was signed. This will be Deablo’s first game action since fracturing his forearm in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers. He has been on injured reserve since then, but his 21-day window to return opened this week. Morris indicated earlier that there was an expectation for Deablo to play in New Orleans.
Bryant recently played his first NFL snaps last week during Atlanta’s loss to the Carolina Panthers after being elevated from the practice squad due to injuries among other cornerbacks. Both Mike Hughes and Dee Alford are now cleared for play this weekend, but with Bowman’s move to IR, Bryant remains as depth in the secondary. Last week, Bryant took part in 11 defensive snaps and made a significant third-down stop.
Additionally, safety Jammie Robinson and wide receiver Dylan Drummond have been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. The move is likely aimed at providing more receiver depth as Drake London remains sidelined with a knee injury.
This marks Robinson’s second consecutive elevation (Weeks 11 and 12) and Drummond’s third overall (Weeks 8, 9, and 12). According to league rules, each team can elevate two players from the practice squad per game day; a player is allowed three elevations per season before needing to be signed permanently to the active roster.
Linebacker Malik Verdon has also been ruled out for Sunday’s contest while Deablo no longer carries a questionable designation.
Recent standard practice squad elevations by Atlanta include WR David Sills V and RB Carlos Washington Jr. (Week 1), K Parker Romo (Week 2), CB Keith Taylor and WR Deven Thompkins (Week 6), WR Dylan Drummond (Weeks 8 & 9), CB Keith Taylor and OL Joshua Gray (Week 10), CB Cobee Bryant and S Jammie Robinson (Week 11).
