LAS VEGAS — The Atlanta Falcons activated rookie defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro from injured reserve and placed inside linebacker Troy Andersen on it, the team announced Monday.
These roster moves come in the lead-up to the "Monday Night Football" game between the Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Orhorhoro was placed on injured reserve Nov. 1 due to an ankle injury he sustained during the Week 8 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was then designated to return on Dec. 4, opening his 21-day practice window in Week 14. His activation Monday makes his return to the active roster official. His game status is no longer questionable, as was designated on Friday's final injury report.
The Falcons brought Orhorhoro to Atlanta from Clemson University with the No. 35 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The rookie has appeared in four games, tallying five tackles and a quarterback hit in 63 defensive snaps and 19 special teams snaps. Orhorhoro saw his most action in the Week 6 win against the Carolina Panthers when he took 22 defensive snaps and had that quarterback hit.
Andersen, meanwhile, has been dealing with a knee injury for much of his third NFL season. The Falcons selected Andersen with the No. 58 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Montana State University.
With his placement on injured reserve, Andersen will not play in any of the Falcons' remaining regular season games. Per NFL rules, a player on injured reserve is required to miss at least four games. That's exactly how many the Falcons have left on their schedule.
So, that means Andersen's 2024 resume will include four starts in seven appearances with 47 tackles, a quarterback hit, a pass breakup and a stop for a loss. Andersen also had his first-ever interception in Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints, which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown.
That same game, however, is when Andersen originally injured his knee.
In addition to those roster moves, the Falcons announced Monday they used one of their Week 15 standard practice squad elevations on inside linebacker Josh Woods. They also signed kicker Tanner Brown to the practice squad.
Monday marks Woods' third, and therefore final, time being elevated. Teams can elevate up to two practice squad players per game. Each player is granted a max of three elevations. If a fourth time comes up, the player must be signed to the active roster.
Woods appeared in the Week 5 overtime win against the Buccaneers and the Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, taking 32 special teams snaps across those two games but not recording any official stats.
Brown joined the NFL this year and has yet to appear in a game.
The prime-time showdown between the Falcons and Raiders is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET Monday and set to air live on ESPN.
Previous 2024 practice squad elevations include:
- Week 1: cornerback Kevin King and wide receiver Chris Blair
- Week 2: safety Dane Cruikshank
- Week 3: none
- Week 4: offensive lineman Matt Hennessy
- Week 5: Woods and Hennessy
- Week 6: Hennessy and King
- Week 7: cornerback Natrone Brooks and defensive lineman Demone Harris
- Week 8: Harris and Brooks
- Week 9: Harris and Brooks
- Week 10: outside linebacker Khalid Kareem and Blair
- Week 11: Cruikshank and Kareem
- Week 12: Bye
- Week 13: Woods and kicker Riley Patterson
- Week 14: Blair
The Falcons take flight to Las Vegas to face the Raiders in week fifteen of the 2024 season. #RiseUp
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison #96 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Clark Phillips III #22 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. #33 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
XXXX arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Drew Dalman #67 and Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo #6 arrive to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons long snapper Liam McCullough #49 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom #63 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Kyle Hinton #68 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Matthew Judon #15 arrives to travel at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday December 15, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
