The Falcons got a needed boost to their pass rush on Monday, with edge rusher James Pearce Jr. officially reinstated by the NFL and eligible to return after serving an eight-game suspension.
Atlanta made room for that move by shaking up its defensive depth. The team waived defensive lineman Jared Ivey and released defensive end Drake Jackson, creating two openings on the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain. One of those spots will be used for Pearce.
Pearce’s return arrives at a time when Atlanta could use it. The Falcons were shut out 16-0 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, a rough offensive showing that also left the defense searching for answers. Pearce, who led Atlanta with 10.5 sacks last season, was one of the team’s most productive pass rushers and gives the Falcons a chance to bring more heat against a Bengals passing attack that can stress defenses.
Ivey played in seven games for Atlanta this season after coming in on waivers following the NFL’s initial roster cutdowns in August. He finished with eight combined tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits.
Jackson’s path was shorter. He joined the practice squad in September and was elevated to the active roster on Oct.
- He appeared in two games for the Falcons this season.
Neither move necessarily closes the door on a return. If Ivey and Jackson clear waivers, both could end up back on Atlanta’s practice squad if the team wants them there.
For the Falcons, though, the headline is Pearce. With the team sitting at 3-5, Atlanta heads into Week 9 with a chance to reset against a Bengals team coming off a 43-36 overtime win over the 1-7 Tennessee Titans. Pearce being back gives the Falcons another important piece as they try to get their defense moving in the right direction.
In Other News...
Falcons Head To Madrid With New Concerns And A Possible Boost
The Falcons are heading into their trip to Madrid still trying to shake off a strange 16-0 loss to Tampa Bay, one that stood out even by the standards of an off day. Atlanta did not allow a completed pass and still came away empty, a reminder that the defense did enough in one area but the offense never found a way to turn the game into anything manageable.
Kevin Stefanski said the injury picture is not getting cleaner before the matchup with Cincinnati, with Samson Ebukam and Zachariah Branch both unavailable because of hamstring issues. There is at least one potential lift on the horizon, though, as James Pearce Jr. is back in the conversation after completing an eight-game suspension, giving Atlanta a possible reinforcement as it tries to steady itself on an international stage. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Got Outplayed In The Exact Way They Wanted To Win
Rainy conditions in Week 8 turned into a ground-game test, and it was Tampa Bay that controlled it. The Buccaneers leaned hard on the run and came away with a 16-0 win, while Atlanta never found the same kind of rhythm on the ground despite having Bijan Robinson in the backfield. It was the sort of game the Falcons usually want to make their own, only this time they were the ones getting pushed around in it.
The matchup carried a little extra edge because Zac Robinson was on the other sideline as Tampa Bays offensive coordinator, facing Atlanta for the first time since leaving. Instead of the Falcons dictating terms with their rushing attack, the Buccaneers were the more effective and more committed team in that phase, which only sharpened the frustration for Atlanta. For a club built to lean on the run, getting outplayed there is the kind of result that lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Head To Madrid With Two Big Week 9 Problems
The Falcons preparations for their Week 9 trip to Madrid took a hit when head coach Kevin Stefanski ruled out wide receiver Zachariah Branch and edge rusher Samson Ebukam because of hamstring injuries. Branch was hurt in the previous game against the Buccaneers and had been handling return duties, while Ebukam has been one of Atlantas more productive pass rushers with 2.5 sacks this season.
Help may be on the way, though, in the form of edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who is now eligible to return after serving an eight-game suspension. Whether the Falcons choose to activate him for the international game would give them another option on a defense suddenly dealing with some thin spots at two important positions. [Read more 🡒]