The Falcons got back to work Wednesday after their upset win over the 49ers, and the first practice of the week came with a familiar bit of injury watching attached to it.
A few important names were absent during the open portion as Atlanta started preparing for Sunday’s matchup with the Buccaneers. Longtime beat reporter D.
Orlando Ledbetter reported that linebacker Divine Deablo and Brian Robinson Jr. were not on the field. Both players missed Sunday’s game against San Francisco as well, with Deablo sidelined by a forearm injury and Robinson dealing with a hamstring issue.
Atlanta managed fine without them in Week 7. Rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels stepped in for Deablo and handled the defense’s green-dot duties, then made his mark in a big way with a game-clinching interception and a fumble recovery in the 29-20 win. Robinson’s spot was filled by practice squad running back Khalil Herbert, who made the most of the opportunity with a couple of strong returns and a 19-yard catch that helped set up an early Falcons touchdown.
There was more bad news on the defensive side, too. Billy Bowman Jr., who also sat out the victory over the 49ers because of a hamstring injury, was missing again Wednesday, according to beat reporter Daniel Flick.
It wasn’t all discouraging for Atlanta, though. Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and rookie cornerback Avieon Terrell were back on the practice field after missing Week 7. The Falcons’ first full injury report of NFL Week 8 is due Wednesday afternoon.
In Other News...
Jessie Bates Is Closing In On Rare Falcons History
Jessie Bates III keeps finding ways to tilt games in Atlantas favor, and his latest showing against the 49ers was another reminder of how valuable he has become to the Falcons defense. He came away with an interception and then helped finish off the game with a forced fumble, the kind of all-around impact that has made him one of the steadiest playmakers on the roster this season.
The performance also pushed Bates closer to rare NFL history, adding to a career pattern of game-changing outings that has become more common than his Pro Bowl rsum might suggest. He remains one of the leagues better safeties by the numbers as well, sitting near the top of the position group in PFF grading, which only adds to the case that his impact in Atlanta has been bigger than the accolades have shown. [Read more 🡒]
Arthur Blank Just Entered A Debate Falcons Fans Didn't Expect
Arthur Blank has never been shy about putting his money into political causes, but his latest campaign-cycle giving has drawn attention for a reason that goes beyond the usual owner-fan divide. The Falcons owner donated to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs reelection campaign and also wrote a larger check to Democratic efforts in the Senate races, a move that stands out in a league where most owners have traditionally leaned the other way.
Blanks donations are especially notable because they span both sides of the aisle, including a contribution to former Falcons kicker Jay Feely, who is now running as a Republican in Arizona. For Atlanta fans, it is another reminder that Blank tends to follow his own lane, even when it puts him into conversations NFL ownership usually tries to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookies Just Made Divine Deablos Future A Real Question
Divine Deablos season has already taken a turn the Falcons did not want to see, with injuries and uneven play sending the linebacker to injured reserve. For a defense that has tried to sort out its identity all year, the bigger issue now is what his absence has revealed: Atlanta has found younger options who are not just filling snaps, but making a real case to stay in the mix.
Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. have both flashed enough in Deablos place to make the roster conversation more complicated for the front office. With those rookies giving the Falcons production and flexibility, Deablos future in Atlanta looks increasingly uncertain, especially if the team decides its money is better spent elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]