The Atlanta Falcons are making sure their roster is in order before this weekend's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain. The team placed defensive end Samson Ebukam on the injured reserve list and signed Drake Jackson to the practice squad on Tuesday.
While we expect the Falcons to activate James Pearce Jr. before Sunday's game, they have three total roster spots available at the moment and one practice squad vacancy. Assuming one goes to Pearce, that means two other moves are likely coming this week.
According to Falcons beat reporter D. Orlando Ledbetter, the team has designated linebacker Yasir Abdullah to return from the injured reserve list. This means Abdullah's 21-day practice window will open this week and he could be activated
to the 53-man roster at any time.
#Falcons designated LB Yasir Abdullah as designated to return from injured reserve.
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@BowTieSportsGuy) November 3, 2026
Abdullah has appeared in four games this season, recording two solo tackles, four QB hits and one pass deflection. The 26-year-old has played in 33 career games since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Louisville.
The Falcons also released offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal from the practice squad. Here's a quick rundown of the 53-man roster and practice squad going into Week 9.
Quarterbacks (4)
- Michael Penix Jr. (9)
- Tua Tagovailoa (1)
- Andy Dalton (13)
- Jack Strand (18)
Running Backs (2)
- Bijan Robinson (7)
- Brian Robinson Jr. (15)
Wide Receivers (5)
- Drake London (5)
- Jahan Dotson (4)
- Olamide Zaccheaus (14)
- Zachariah Branch (17)
- Chris Blair (19)
Tight Ends (4)
- Kyle Pitts (8)
- Austin Hooper (81)
- Charlie Woerner (89)
- Nick Muse (87)
Offensive Linemen (8)
- Jake Matthews (70)
- Matthew Bergeron (65)
- Ryan Neuzil (64)
- Chris Lindstrom (63)
- Jawaan Taylor (71)
- Ethan Onianwa (75)
- Kyle Hinton (68)
- Corey Levin (62)
Defensive Linemen (8)
- Gervon Dexter (95)
- Brandon Dorlus (54)
- Maason Smith(92)
- LaCale London (94)
- Za'Darius Smith (55)
- Cameron Thomas (99)
- Zach Harrison (96)
- Charles Snowden (47)
Linebackers (5)
- Divine Deablo (0)
- Kendal Daniels (53)
- Harold Perkins Jr. (56)
- Christian Harris (45)
- Josh Woods (42)
Defensive Backs (11)
- A.J. Terrell (24)
- Avieon Terrell (12)
- Mike Hughes (21)
- Billy Bowman Jr. (33)
- C.J. Henderson (26)
- Mike Ford Jr. (28)
- Jessie Bates III (3)
- Xavier Watts (31)
- DeMarcco Hellams (23)
- Sydney Brown (29)
- Robert Longerbeam (37)
Special Teams (3)
- LS: Liam McCullough (49)
- K: Nick Folk (6)
- P: Jake Bailey (16)
Falcons practice squad
- WR Vinny Anthony (86)
- OL Kam Dewberry (61)
- WR Dylan Drummond (80)
- DB Darnay Holmes (30)
- OT Riley Mahlman (76)
- TE E.J. Jenkins (84)
- WR Antwane Wells (82)
- OL Josh Thompson (67)
- DL Zacch Pickens (93)
- RB Khalil Herbert (25)
- LB Brian Asamoah (41)
- RB Jam Miller (38)
- S Jammie Robinson (34)
- LB T.J. Quinn (43)
- DE Drake Jackson (91)
Reserve Lists
- DE James Pearce Jr. (Reserve/Suspended) Eligible to Return
- LB Yasir Abdullah (Reserve/Injured): Designated To Return
- WR Beaux Collins (Reserve/Injured): Designated To Return
- OT Cameron Williams (Reserve/Injured): Designated To Return
- OT Storm Norton (Reserve/PUP)
- LB DeAngelo Malone (Reserve/PUP)
- DE Keshawn Banks (Reserve/Injured)
- LB JD Bertrand (Reserve/Injured)
- LB Jalon Walker (Reserve/Injured)
- RB Trey Sermon (Reserve/Injured)
- DT Anterio Thompson (Reserve/NFI)
- OT Michael Jerrell (Reserve/Injured)
- Da'Shawn Hand (Reserve/Injured)
- DE Samson Ebukam (Reserve/Injured)
The Falcons and the Bengals will kick things off at 9:30 a.m. ET this Sunday. Check back on Wednesday for the team's first injury report of Week 9.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons linebacker designated to return from injured reserve
