Falcons Deal with Injury Setback as Divine Deablo Hits Injured Reserve
The Atlanta Falcons are grappling with a significant loss on their defense as linebacker Divine Deablo has been placed on injured reserve following a forearm fracture sustained during their Week 7 clash against the San Francisco 49ers. The injury occurred early in the first quarter, forcing Deablo to leave the field and ultimately resulting in a minimum four-game absence.
Roster Adjustments Following Deablo’s Injury
In response to this setback, the Falcons have signed linebacker Ronnie Harrison to their active roster. Harrison, who previously made his mark as a safety, is expected to step into a role that mirrors Deablo’s skill set. Both players share a background in safety positions, with Deablo transitioning from Virginia Tech to the NFL as an inside linebacker.
Harrison’s arrival is just one part of a broader strategy to mitigate Deablo’s absence. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has indicated that the team will adopt a committee approach to fill the void left by Deablo’s unique athletic profile. “It’s going to be a kind of replace-him-by-committee a little bit,” Ulbrich explained. “As we all know, he’s very unique in the fact that he is, from an athletic profile standpoint, he’s very DB-ish. From a size standpoint, he’s very linebacker-ish.”
Committee Approach and Additional Moves
Alongside Harrison, the Falcons are preparing to utilize a mix of players to handle Deablo’s responsibilities. Ulbrich mentioned that Josh Woods, JD Bertrand, Jordan Fuller, and DeMarcco Hellams will all be called upon to contribute in different capacities during Deablo’s recovery.
In a positive development, Jordan Fuller has been activated from injured reserve after dealing with a knee injury sustained in Week 2. Although he has only participated in one defensive snap this season, Fuller is expected to play a role in the team’s defensive strategies moving forward, especially considering his full participation in practice since the opening of his 21-day practice window.
Further Roster Moves Ahead of Week 8
The Falcons also made additional roster adjustments ahead of their upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins. Wide receiver Dyland Drummond and quarterback Easton Stick have been elevated from the practice squad. Their promotions come in light of the recent release of Ray-Ray McCloud and the uncertainty surrounding Drake London’s status for the game.
Should starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. be unable to play due to a bone bruise in his knee, Stick is poised to step in as the backup. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins is expected to take over the starting role.
Despite these challenges, the Falcons remain 7.5-point favorites against the struggling Dolphins as they aim to improve on their current 3-3 record in Week 8. The team’s resilience will be put to the test as they navigate through injuries and prepare for what could be a crucial game in their season.
