The Falcons may be heading into Sunday’s matchup with Carolina without one of the key pieces of their defense. Atlanta added linebacker Divine Deablo to the Week 2 injury report on Sunday morning, and ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported that he has been downgraded to questionable because of an illness.
That would be a noticeable hit for a defense that leans on Deablo’s range and toughness. He’s one of the leaders on that side of the ball, able to affect both the run and the pass, and he showed it in Week 1. In Atlanta’s 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Deablo tied for the team lead with seven tackles and also logged a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
There is better news for Atlanta elsewhere on the roster. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that guard Chris Lindstrom and cornerback A.J.
Terrell are expected to be available against the Panthers. Both players were listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, but Rapoport said, "The Falcons are getting healthy, with G Chris Lindstrom (concussion) clearing the protocol and CB AJ Terrell (shoulder) also expected to play, sources say,"
Carolina has its own injury concern on defense. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that edge rusher Patrick Jones II is unlikely to go after being listed as questionable with a back issue. Fowler wrote, "Panthers pass rusher Patrick Jones II (questionable, back) is expected to miss another week, per source," and added, "Princely Umanmielen slated to start in his place."
There’s also a quarterback note hanging over Atlanta beyond Sunday’s game. Both Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter are reporting that Michael Penix Jr. is expected to return and start for the Falcons in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers.
Sunday’s NFC South game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
In Other News...
Falcons Created A Quarterback Problem They Never Should Have Had
Atlantas quarterback picture got messy fast in Week 2, and it was a mess the Falcons helped create. With Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa dealing with injuries, the team turned to Cooper Rush to start against the Panthers, a move that quickly became a referendum on how the situation was handled from the outset. Rush struggled enough that Atlanta had to keep searching for a better answer as the game wore on.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Falcons finally made the switch to undrafted rookie Jack Strand, a move that only added another layer to the frustration. Strands first extended action ended almost immediately with a pick-six, turning a bad quarterback day into a harder one to defend. The bigger issue now is not just who was under center, but how Atlanta arrived at a point where it had to improvise on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than Just An 0-2 Start
The Falcons Week 2 home loss to the Panthers brought a familiar kind of frustration on the scoreboard, but it also left Atlanta dealing with a more immediate concern. Falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2020 is one thing; watching the offense sputter badly enough to trigger a quarterback change in the middle of the game is another, and it underscored how quickly the seasons early narrative has turned.
Bryce Young and Carolina added to the discomfort, with the Panthers quarterback continuing to give Atlanta problems and the Falcons defense struggling to slow him down. The injury situation made the afternoon even messier, with A.J. Terrell leaving with a groin issue and not returning, while other Falcons also went down, giving the team plenty to sort through before the week even turns. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Londons Frustration Said Everything About Atlantas Offensive Mess
Drake Londons body language said plenty Sunday in Atlantas home opener, where the Falcons fell into a deep hole against Carolina and never found much rhythm on offense. The third-year receiver, fresh off a four-year, $141 million extension, was shown on the sideline looking visibly frustrated as the Falcons attack sputtered around him, turning the ball over four times and settling for just one field goal.
London finished with two catches for 29 yards, a modest line that fit the larger story of an offense that looked out of sync from the start. With Cooper Rush starting because of injuries to Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback picture remains unsettled, and the larger concern for Atlanta is whether there is any quick fix for an offense that has already started to feel stuck. [Read more 🡒]