The Atlanta Falcons have ruled out edge rusher Za'Darius Smith for Sunday's prime-time matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Smith, who was initially listed as questionable due to a concussion/neck injury, was downgraded by the team on Saturday afternoon.
The veteran defensive end suffered a severe blow to the head while going to the ground in the first quarter of the Falcons' win over the New Orleans Saints. Smith leads the team with 2.5 sacks and has been a dominant presence up front for Atlanta.
The Falcons also listed defensive end Samson Ebukam as questionable for Sunday's game due to a hamstring injury. If Ebukam sits out, the team could be thin along the edge against the Ravens.
However, the Falcons have since added some reinforcements in the form
of their Week 5 practice squad elevations. Edge rushers Bralen Trice and Drake Jackson will join the 53-man roster on Sunday.
Trice, a former third-round pick in 2024, made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and returned in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers.
Jackson, a former second-round pick out of USC, began his career with the San Francisco 49ers. Over three NFL seasons, Jackson has appeared in 26 games for the 49ers and Washington Commanders. Sunday will be the 25-year-old's first elevation of 2026.
Atlanta also placed linebacker Yasir Abdullah on the injured reserve list and signed defensive back Jammie Robinson to the roster. Check out the Falcons' updated 53-man roster here.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons rule out key edge rusher for SNF matchup vs. Ravens
