The 49ers are adding another edge defender, signing OLB Khalid Kareem off the Falcons’ practice squad and onto their active roster, according to Greg Auman.
Kareem, 28, came into the league as a fifth-round pick by the Bengals in 2020 after a college career at Notre Dame, where he was a two-year starter and team captain. He was in the third year of a four-year rookie contract worth $3,649,474, with a signing bonus of $354,474, when Cincinnati waived him and then brought him back on the practice squad.
His path since then has been a familiar one for a player trying to stick: the Colts signed him off that practice squad and added him to their active roster, and he played in four games for Indianapolis in 2022 before returning on a one-year deal for the 2023 season. He was released during roster cuts, then went to the Bears, who claimed him but let him go back in October 2023.
Chicago brought him back on a futures deal in 2024, only to release him before the end of training camp. Kareem then landed on Atlanta’s practice squad in August 2024 and stayed there through the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The Giants signed him to a contract in May, but he did not make their final roster. Atlanta re-signed him to its practice squad a couple of days later. In 2025, Kareem played in four games for the Falcons and finished with seven total tackles and one pass defended.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Got Dragged Into A Quarterback Trade Debate
A fresh quarterback trade idea has pulled the Falcons into a conversation they did not ask to join. Bleacher Reports Kristopher Knox floated a speculative three-team concept that would send Tua Tagovailoa to the Browns, while Atlanta would be the club giving up Dillon Gabriel and a conditional 2027 first-round pick as part of the broader framework. It is purely an exercise at this point, but it underscores how much leaguewide quarterback chatter is still tied to Atlantas future draft capital.
From the Falcons perspective, the appeal and the risk are both obvious. Any move involving a premium pick invites immediate scrutiny, especially when it is attached to a quarterback debate that already has several layers to it. For now, though, there has been no official move and no confirmation that Atlanta is actually pursuing anything close to this scenario, leaving the whole idea as one more reminder of how quickly the Falcons can get pulled into trade speculation around the position. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Let A Familiar Receiver Slip To A Division Rival
Cedric Tillmans latest move gave the Falcons a small but noticeable miss in a division race that can turn on the margins. After being released by Cleveland, the veteran receiver landed on the Saints practice squad rather than making his way to Atlanta, even with the added familiarity of having been coached by Kevin Stefanski. The Falcons chose to keep their current group intact after the cut deadline, leaving Tillman to find his next stop elsewhere.
For New Orleans, the fit is obvious enough on paper. The Saints had a clear need at wide receiver and now have a player who can be elevated to the active roster if the opportunity opens. For Atlanta, it is another reminder that roster churn does not stop at the waiver wire, especially when a division opponent is willing to move quickly and offer a clearer path to playing time. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Defense Gets A Needed Boost At The Perfect Time
Da'Shawn Hand was back at practice with the Falcons after missing most of training camp because of a leg injury, giving Atlanta a welcome reinforcement on a defense that has been managing plenty of uncertainty. He had been listed as questionable for Week 1, and even getting him back on the field mattered for a team trying to stabilize a defensive front that needs experienced help.
Hands return gives the Falcons a better chance of having a veteran defensive lineman available when they need one most. With injuries and suspensions already thinning the group, his presence could matter in the areas Atlanta cares about most up front, especially when it comes to depth and holding up against the run. [Read more 🡒]