FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons made a series of transactions Saturday before their Week 11 matchup with the Denver Broncos.
The Falcons-Broncos game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday. FOX will carry live coverage from Empower Field at Mile High.
Below are all of the Falcons' transactions.
ACTIVATED FROM INJURED RESERVE
- Center Drew Dalman
Dalman was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 24 after sustaining an ankle injury in the Falcons' Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was designated to return on Oct. 30 but did not play in the Falcons' Week 9 win against the Dallas Cowboys or their Week 10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Prior to his injury, which happened in the second quarter of the third game, Dalman took 76% of the Falcons' offensive snaps. Ryan Neuzil filled in as the starting center since then.
- Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter
Carter was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 19 due to a concussion. He was designated to return Wednesday.
Prior to his injury, Carter started all but the Falcons' Week 6 win against the Carolina Panthers, when Atlanta started just one outside linebacker. Carter totaled 11 tackles, with two quarterback hits, through the first six games. He took 50% of the defensive snaps and 23% of the special teams snaps. Arnold Ebiketie and Demone Harris helped fill Carter's role during his absence.
PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE
- Defensive lineman Ta'Quon Graham
Graham injured his pectoral muscle during the second quarter of last Sunday's loss to the Saints. He was initially deemed questionable to return before ultimately being ruled out of the action just before halftime.
Graham appeared in all 10 of the Falcons' games so far, taking 29% of the defensive snaps and 16% of the special teams snaps. He totaled 12 tackles with one quarterback hit. Graham took a season-high 30 defensive snaps in the Falcons' Week 4 win against the Saints, making one tackle.
- Defensive lineman James Smith-Williams
Smith-Williams left last Sunday's game with an injury during the third quarter but ultimately returned to action shortly after being evaluated on the sideline. It wasn't until Monday that Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said the injury was “not great.” The Falcons' first Week 11 injury report, which was an estimate released Wednesday, revealed Smith-Williams' injury was to his tibia, which is the injury he was limited with in the week before the Falcons' game against the Saints.
Smith-Williams appeared in 10 of the Falcons' games so far, taking 46% of the defensive snaps. He totaled 24 tackles, with seven for a loss, and one sack. Smith-Williams took a season-high 39 defensive snaps in the Falcons' Week 2 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, making one tackle. His sole sack was on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in Atlanta's Week 7 loss.
SIGNED TO 53-MAN ROSTER
- Cornerback Natrone Brooks
Brooks hit his max of three practice squad elevations in Week 9. He was also elevated in Weeks 7 and 8, taking 63% of the special teams snaps across the three games. Brooks' 18 special teams snaps against the Cowboys were his most, and he made his first career tackle — along with a second — on special teams during that appearance.
Brooks has been on the Falcons' practice squad since he joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023. This marks his first time being signed to the active roster. Along with being a special teams asset, Brooks also provides depth within the secondary seeing as the Falcons ruled out Mike Hughes, Dee Alford and Antonio Hamilton, Sr. Friday.
PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES
- Signed offensive lineman Matt Hennessy
The Falcons' 2020 third-round draft pick was released from the 53-man roster Thursday. He played in last Sunday's game in New Orleans as an active member and in Weeks 7-9 as an elevated member, ultimately taking 4% of the offensive snaps and 17% of the special teams snaps in his four appearance. However, because Hennessy has already been elevated from the practice squad three times, he cannot be again. In order to play more for the Falcons this season, he'd have to sign to the 53-man roster again.
- Released wide receiver Jakeem Grant
Grant has not played a single down in the 2024 season. He was signed to the practice squad Wednesday.
STANDARD PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS
- Safety Dane Cruikshank
- Outside linebacker Khalid Kareem
This marks both Cruikshank's and Kareem's second elevation. Cruikshank appeared against the Eagles, taking 64% of the special teams snaps. Kareem played last Sunday, making three tackles. He took 17% of the defensive snaps and 15% of the special teams snaps.
Previous 2024 practice squad elevations include:
- Week 1: cornerback Kevin King and wide receiver Chris Blair
- Week 2: Cruikshank
- Week 3: none
- Week 4: Hennessy
- Week 5: Hennessy and inside linebacker Josh Woods
- Week 6: Hennessy and King
- Week 7: Brooks and defensive lineman Demone Harris
- Week 8: Harris and Brooks
- Week 9: Harris and Brooks
- Week 10: Kareem and Blair
