Branch (hamstring) was forced out Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with a hamstring injury, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Prior to that, Branch wasn't targeted in the contest. In his absence versus Tampa Bay, Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and Chris Blair are available to handle Atlanta's WR duties.
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Falcons' Zachariah Branch: Huge kickoff return in Week 7 win
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Branch brought in one of two targets for nine yards, logged an eight-yard carry and returned his lone kickoff for 61 yards during the Falcons' 29-20 win over the 49ers on Sunday.
Branch saw minimal usage offensively, but he made an impact early with a 61-yard kickoff return early in the first quarter, with the Falcons' offense converting that opportunity into a 39-yard field goal five plays later. It was a solid bounce back from his Week 6 performance against the Chicago, when he lost two fumbles. The rookie third-rounder has a 10-64-0 receiving line on 12 targets through seven regular-season games, and Branch's role will continue to be a complementary one while he's situated behind Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson in the pecking order. The Falcons will hit the road for Week 8 against the Buccaneers on Nov. 1.
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Falcons' Zachariah Branch: Two receptions in loss
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Branch caught both of his targets for nine yards while adding 85 yards as a kick returner during Sunday's 31-23 loss to Chicago.
Branch has now caught exactly two passes in three straight games, but he has only compiled 34 total yards on those receptions. The wide receiver is merely a depth option behind the likes of Drake London, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus on offense, and he's much more valuable as a return specialist for Atlanta. On the season, Branch has reeled in nine of 10 targets for 55 yards over six contests so far.
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Falcons' Zachariah Branch: Continues to contribute as returner
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Branch caught one pass on two targets for seven yards while logging an 18-yard punt return and a 22-yard kickoff return during the Falcons' 35-14 win over the Packers on Thursday.
The rookie third-rounder has contributed on both special teams as a returner and on offense as a rotational pass catcher. He's up to three catches (on four targets) for 21 yards and 110 return yards through three regular-season games. His involvement on offense hasn't been as high as other rookie wide receivers, but the Falcons appear committed to using Branch in multiple ways to utilize his speed and explosiveness.
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Falcons' Zachariah Branch: Sees snaps at returner
Rotowire
Branch returned three punts for 33 yards and one kickoff for 30 yards in the Falcons' 20-13 loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
Branch saw 18 offensive snaps in the contest but did not show up in the box score. The wide receiver's six special-teams snaps resulted in four return attempts, hinting at a potentially expanded role with the unit in the coming weeks.
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Falcons' Zachariah Branch: Stays limited Thursday
Rotowire
Branch (hamstring) remained limited at practice Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Branch has been a limited participant in consecutive practices to kick off Week 1 prep, but the rookie third-round pick still has a chance to avoid an injury designation if he can upgrade to full practice participation Friday as he looks to make his NFL debut Sunday against the Steelers. Branch is expected to fill a reserve role at wide receiver to begin his career, but he's penciled in as Atlanta's primary punt returner.
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Falcons' Zachariah Branch: Returns punt in preseason win
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Branch returned a punt for 18 yards during the Falcons' 17-12 preseason win over the Dolphins on Friday.
Branch didn't see much action Friday, playing a total of four snaps (three on offense, one on special teams). However, his lone snap on special teams came as a punt returner, and he figures to see plenty of work as a returner in the upcoming season, especially if he doesn't get much playing time on offense behind Drake London, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.
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Falcons' Zachariah Branch: Bound for Atlanta
Rotowire
The Falcons selected Branch in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 79th overall.
Branch (5-foot-9, 177 pounds) started two seasons at USC before transferring to Georgia in 2025, where he broke out with a career-best 81 catches for 811 yards and six TDs across 14 games. The 22-year-old lacks size but boasts quick twitch and tremendous speed (4.35 second 40-yard dash), meaning the most natural areas for him to contribute at the NFL-level may be the slot or in a gadget role, as well as potentially in the return game -- a skill set that nicely complements WRs Drake London, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus. The extent of Branch's role as a rookie may be notably determined by how much chemistry he's able to develop with dueling QBs Michael Penix (ACL) and Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. Branch was arrested Sunday and is facing misdemeanor charges.
