Falcons' James Pearce: Dazzles during rookie season
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Pearce tallied 26 total tackles (17 solo), including 10.5 sacks, five passes defensed and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Pearce, a 2025 first-round pick from Tennessee, was one of the NFL's premier pass rushers during his rookie campaign, leading all rookies with 10.5 sacks and tying for the 12th most in the league. The 22-year-old made a significant impact on Atlanta's defense, helping the Falcons finish with the second-most sacks in the NFL (57.0) after ranking 24th in the same category last season. Pearce is expected to line up opposite fellow 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker in 2026, forming one of league's most promising pass-rush duos.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Makes impact for Atlanta
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Alford tallied 67 total tackles (55 solo), including 2.0 sacks, 13 passes defensed, including three interceptions, and one forced fumble over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
The Tusculum product enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, setting personal highs in passes defensed, sacks and interceptions. Additionally, Alford was a key portion of the Falcons' secondary, finishing first on the team in passes defensed, tying for second in interceptions and ranking sixth in total tackles. Set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Alford could be in line for a decent contract following another impressive season in Atlanta.
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Falcons' A.J. Terrell: Another impressive season
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Terrell recorded 68 total tackles (49 solo), 12 passes defensed and two forced fumbles over 15 regular-season games in 2025.
Despite playing 86 fewer defensive snaps in 2025 than in 2024, Terrell still registered more total tackles (66 to 68), passes defensed (six to 12) and forced fumbles (zero to two) than he did last season. The veteran corner from Clemson has proven to be one of the NFL's premier defensive backs, posting 61 passes defensed, including six interceptions, since entering the league in 2020. Under contract through the 2028 season, Terrell is expected to remain a key portion of the Falcons' secondary for years to come.
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Falcons' Divine Deablo: Impresses when healthy
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Deablo recorded 73 total tackles (38 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and seven passes defensed across 13 regular-season games in 2025.
Despite missing four games this season due to a forearm injury, Deablo still ranked fourth on the Falcons in total tackles and tied for fourth in passes defensed. His impact on Atlanta's defense was evident, as the team allowed 29.8 points per game while he was sidelined, compared to just 21.7 when he was active. Under contract through next season, Deablo is expected to remain an integral portion of the Falcons' linebacker corps in 2026.
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Falcons' Xavier Watts: Stellar rookie campaign
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Watts posted 96 total tackles (59 solo) and 11 passes defensed, including five interceptions, across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Watts, a 2025 third-round pick from Florida State, made an instant impact in Atlanta, tying for the second-most interceptions in the NFL while ranking third on the team in total tackles and passes defensed. His best game of the season came in the Week 17 upset win over the Rams, when he recorded five total tackles and picked off MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford twice. Entering his second NFL season, Watts could continue to emerge as one of the league's premier ball hawks in 2026.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Numbers drop in 2025
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Bates posted 98 total tackles (57 solo), six passes defensed, including three interceptions, and one forced fumble across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
The veteran safety from Wake Forest was one of the Falcons' top defenders in 2025, finishing with the second-most tackles and tying for the second-most interceptions on the team. However, he saw a dip in total tackles (98 to 102), passes defensed (10 to six) and forced fumbles (four to one) from his 2024 totals, despite playing 36 more defensive snaps this season. While Bates' production has taken a dip in two consecutive seasons, he remains one of the NFL's premier safeties. Under contract through the 2026 season, he's expected to remain one of the Falcons' top defensive playmakers next year.
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Falcons' Kaden Elliss: Production dips in 2025
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Elliss recorded 107 total tackles (59 solo), including 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed, including one interception, and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season games in 2025.
The veteran linebacker from Idaho remained one of the Falcons' top defensive playmakers in 2025, leading the team in total tackles and setting a new career high in passes defensed. However, Elliss saw declines in both total tackles (151 to 107) and sacks (6.0 to 3.5) compared to his 2024 campaign, despite logging 48 more defensive snaps this season. The 30-year-old is set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason and could still command a solid contract following his third consecutive season with triple-digit stops.
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Falcons' Cobee Bryant: Enters concussion protocol
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Bryant has entered the league's concussion protocol and has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Saints, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Bryant was shaken up after taking a knee to the helmet from Saints running back Audric Estime, and the former will not return. Natrone Brooks and Dee Alford are slated to see more snaps at outside corner for the rest of Sunday's game in Bryant's absence.
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Falcons' Ruke Orhorhoro: Cleared to play Week 18
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Orhorhoro (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the saints, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Orhorhoro was a late addition to Saturday's injury report due to an illness, but the second-year pro has shown enough during pregame warmups to be cleared to play in Sunday's regular-season finale. He has accumulated 24 tackles (12 solo), including 3.4 sacks, and one pass defense across 16 regular-season games.
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Falcons' Sam Roberts: Won't face Saints
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Roberts (knee) was not activated from injured reserve Saturday and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Saints, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Roberts has been practicing for the last week and even upgraded to a full session Friday. However, he still won't be able to return for Sunday's season finale and will have missed the final eight games of the 2025 season. Roberts tallied 18 tackles and 1.0 sacks across five games on the campaign.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Done for year
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Hellams (hamstring) was not activated from injured reserve Saturday and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Saints, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hellams was designated to return Wednesday after missing Atlanta's last four games. He logged a full practice Friday after logging two limited sessions earlier in the week, but that won't be enough for him to play in the Falcons' season finale. Hellams played almost exclusively on special teams and logged 10 tackles across 11 games in 2025.
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Falcons' A.J. Terrell: Questionable with illness
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Terrell (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Terrell was a new addition to Saturday's injury report with a sudden illness. If the cornerback is unable to overcome the issue in time for Sunday's divisional clash, he will likely be inactive for the game. If Terrell is unable to play, Natrone Brooks would be set to start at outside cornerback opposite Cobee Bryant.
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Falcons' Brandon Dorlus: Notches second straight DNP
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Dorlus (hamstring) didn't practice Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Dorlus couldn't finish Monday's win over the Rams after suffering an injury early in the second half. He was deemed a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report (Atlanta held a walkthrough) and was labeled with another DNP for Thursday's padded practice. The initial belief was that Dorlus' injury was to his knee, but it's since been discovered that he actually hurt his hamstring, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday that the team "dodged a big-time bullet" with Dorlus, according to Raimondi, but the second-year defensive end still isn't expected to play in Atlanta's regular-season finale Sunday against New Orleans, per McElhaney.
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Falcons' Josh Woods: Returns to team
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Woods (personal) did not have a designation in Wednesday's estimated practice report, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Woods missed Atlanta's upset win in Week 17 due to a personal matter. His absence from the injury report suggests he'll be back in Week 18 against the Saints and should play almost entirely on special teams.
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Falcons' Mike Ford: No designation to begin week
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Ford was not listed in Wednesday's estimated practice report, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Ford suffered an ankle injury in Monday's win over the Rams and did not return. However, the issue won't jeopardize his status for Atlanta's Week 18 matchup against the Saints, and he should retain his significant role on special teams.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Designated to return
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Hellams (hamstring) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hellams has missed the minimum of four games since being placed on injured reserve and was estimated to be a limited practice participant Wednesday. He presumably has a good chance to suit up for Sunday's season finale against New Orleans, which will be Hellams' last chance to play in 2025.
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Falcons' Mike Hughes: Done for season
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Coach Raheem Morris said Hughes (ankle) will miss Sunday's regular-season finale against the Saints, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Hughes will end up missing the final three games of the season and wraps up the 2025 campaign with 51 tackles (40 solo) and seven pass breakups, including one interception, across 12 starts. Hughes has two years remaining on a three-year, $18 million deal.
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Falcons' Divine Deablo: Paces Falcons with 10 stops Monday
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Deablo tallied 10 tackles (seven solo) in a 27-24 win against the Rams on Monday.
Deablo was Atlanta's leading tackler in the team's upset victory. The veteran linebacker reached double-digit stops in a game for the first time on the campaign, surpassing his previous season-high mark of eight tackles. A forearm injury cost Deablo four games earlier in the season, but he's suited up in every contest since Week 12 and has at least six stops in five of his past six games.
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Falcons' Xavier Watts: Comes up huge in Week 17 win
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Watts registered five tackles (four solo) and three defensed passes, including two interceptions, in Monday's 27-24 victory versus the Rams.
Watts twice got the better of MVP candidate Matthew Stafford in Atlanta's upset win. Late in the second quarter, Watts grabbed a deep pass intended for Xavier Smith at the Falcons' seven-yard line. One play later, Bijan Robinson reached the end zone on a 93-yard touchdown run. In the fourth quarter, Watts picked off Stafford again, this time gathering the ball at Atlanta's 25-yard line and returning it 32 yards to the Rams' 43. Monday marked the first multi-interception game of Watts' career and added to a fine rookie campaign during which the Notre Dame product has posted 89 tackles and 10 defensed passes, including five picks, through 16 contests.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Notches pick-six in Week 17 win
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Bates totaled seven tackles (four solo) and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, in Monday's 27-24 victory against the Rams.
Bates played a major role in the Falcons' upset victory, giving Atlanta a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter when he picked off Matthew Stafford and return the ball 34 yards for a touchdown. That was the veteran safety's fourth career defensive touchdown, three of which have come during his three seasons in Atlanta. Bates also tied for second on the Falcons with seven stops Monday and needs five more tackles against the Saints in Week 18 to reach the triple-digit tackle mark for the third consecutive campaign.
