The Falcons got a much-needed boost on Wednesday, and it starts with A.J. Terrell. Atlanta opened Terrell’s 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve, and he took the field for the first time since the groin injury he suffered in Week 2 against the Panthers.
Stefanski said, "AJ Terrell will practice today. #Falcons"
That’s the kind of news Atlanta badly needs with Sunday’s matchup against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers approaching. After what the Falcons’ pass defense showed against the Bears, Terrell suddenly looks like the piece they need if they want any real shot at an upset against the MVP frontrunner in Brock Purdy.
There was more good news on the defensive side, too. Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels also practiced Wednesday after the frightening injury he suffered last Sunday, when he was carted off on a stretcher.
It was the kind of scene that stopped everything. Players from both teams gathered around Daniels, hoping the situation wasn’t life-altering. When a tackle involving the head or neck leaves a player struggling to move at all, the game fades into the background fast.
Soon after, it was announced that Daniels was responsive, and he later made it back to the locker room to visit with teammates. Now there’s at least a chance he could be available as soon as Sunday, which would have seemed almost impossible in the moment.
Not everything was resolved, though. Divine Deablo, who left Atlanta’s loss to Chicago with an arm injury in the first half, is improving, but his status for this week remains uncertain. Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Deablo is feeling better, though he wasn’t ready to project what the next few days will bring.
Stefanski says LB Divine Deablo is doing better, but he's not ready to say what the next few days might look like. #Falcons
In Other News...
Falcons Have A Bigger Michael Penix Jr. Problem Than Fans Realize
Michael Penix Jr. has given the Falcons enough reason to believe they may have something at quarterback. In four starts this season, he has looked poised enough to keep the offense moving, with deep passing and play-action becoming real strengths as Atlanta has leaned into what he does best. The early returns have been encouraging enough that the conversation around him is no longer just about upside, but about how quickly the rest of the operation can catch up.
The problem is the support system around him still looks fragile, especially up front. Atlantas offensive line has struggled to hold up against pressure, and the issues at tackle have made the protection picture even murkier. For a young quarterback showing promise, that matters because the development arc is only as stable as the time he gets to throw, and right now the Falcons still have work to do before Penix can be evaluated in something closer to ideal conditions. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Linebacker Problem They Cant Ignore
The Falcons roster shuffle this week was about more than just a change at quarterback. While Atlanta signed Andy Dalton and moved on from Cooper Rush, the bigger immediate concern was on defense, where the team also dipped into the market for help by adding edge rusher Charles Snowden from the Washington Commanders practice squad and bringing linebacker TJ Quinn onto its practice squad.
Quinn, an undrafted free agent who previously spent time with the Green Bay Packers, gives Atlanta another body at linebacker as injuries have thinned that group. Divine Deablo is among the players the Falcons are trying to cover for, and Kendal Daniels is dealing with a situation that has left his availability very much up in the air, forcing the team to keep patching the position while it waits for more clarity. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Suddenly Have A Jessie Bates Trade Deadline Worry
With Atlanta sitting at 2-4 heading into Week 7, the Falcons are already navigating a season that feels like it could swing quickly in either direction. The schedule ahead is not doing them many favors, and even before the trade deadline enters the picture, the teams margin for error is thin enough that every result seems to carry extra weight.
Against that backdrop, one of the more jarring names to surface in deadline conversation is Jessie Bates III. The Pro Bowl safety has been a cornerstone for Atlanta, but his status has suddenly become part of the bigger question around the teams direction if the losses keep piling up and playoff hopes fade. Because he is under contract through 2026, any move involving Bates would also force the Falcons to weigh whether they can realistically line up an extension before deciding what comes next. [Read more 🡒]