FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons just had a fair amount of time off to rest and recover thanks to a Week 5 bye.
Although it was the earliest possible bye in the NFL, it came at the perfect time for many players in Atlanta.
The Falcons had 18 players with some sort of injury situation in Week 4. There were eight on the injury report, three of whom were ultimately ruled out before the game. Another two were then injured during the Atlanta’s win against the Washington Commanders. And the remaining eight players were not on the active roster.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris addressed the media ahead of his team's bye but didn't provide any injury updates before the break.
"I've got my medical meeting coming up here in a little bit," he said. "I'll probably have more after that. Be way more informative next week when we get back. But I have to go check on Storm (Norton), check on all those guys obviously on the IR. Obviously, you potentially could open up a couple of those windows coming up here shortly after the four weeks are up. ... So, we'll get a feel where they're all at."
Morris is scheduled to speak Tuesday.
Before then, below is a recap of every active and non-active player who has recently dealt with an injury or holds a specific injury designation.
WEEK 4 IN-GAME INJURIES
Darnell Mooney, Wide Receiver
Injury: Hamstring (third quarter, ruled out)
Game Report: Played 29 offensive snaps, or 45% of the unit's total. Caught one pass for 15 yards.
Raheem Morris on Sept. 29: "I don't know anything about Mooney other than we'll have to see from this week. Obviously, he left yesterday with the hamstring. So, we'll see. I don't know how bad it was, but I don't think it's something too bad. But we'll get a check. I'll get a feel for it later."
Mooney has had a rough 2025 in that he injured his shoulder during the Falcons' first training camp practice and missed the remainder of the preseason. He missed Atlanta's Week 1 game but played Weeks 3-4. However, he got hurt again before the bye.
Natrone Brooks, Cornerback
Injury: Concussion (second quarter, ruled out)
Game Report: Played three special teams snaps, or 10% of the unit's total. Did not record any stats.
Raheem Morris on Sept. 28: "I just seen him walking around the locker room with his son. Those are always good signs. I got a chance to hug his son. His son hugged me back, so that was awesome. Brooks was in there. He's in good spirits, so we'll see where he is from a health standpoint and all those things."
Brooks has played in all four of the Falcons' games so far, solely on special teams.
WEEK 4 INJURY REPORT
A.J. Terrell Jr., Cornerback
Injury: Hamstring
Game Status: Out
Raheem Morris on Sept. 29: "Hoping that we can get A.J. back after this bye. Another week of rest for him and get a chance to get him out there."
KhaDarel Hodge, Wide Receiver
Injury: Groin
Game Status: Out
Nate Carter, Running Back
Injury: Hamstring
Game Status: Out
Kyle Pitts Sr., Tight End
Injury: Toe
Game Status: Cleared. Played 48 offensive snaps, or 74% of the unit's total. Had five receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Jamal Agnew, Return Specialist
Injury: Groin
Game Status: Cleared. Played 10 special teams snaps, or 33% of the unit's total. Returned three kicks for 69 yards.
DeMarcco Hellams, Safety
Injury: Hamstring
Game Status: Cleared. Played 2 defensive snaps, or 4% of the unit's total. Played 24 special teams snaps, or 80% of the unit's total. Made one tackle.
James Pearce Jr., Edge Rusher
Injury: Groin
Game Status: Cleared. Played 23 defensive snaps, or 40% of the unit's total. Did not record any stats.
Casey Washington, Wide Receiver
Injury: Concussion
Game Status: Cleared. Played 34 offensive snaps, or 52% of the unit's total. Had one reception for 19 yards.
RESERVE/INJURED
Bralen Trice, Edge Rusher
Can he return in 2025? Yes.
Trice was on the Falcons' initial roster on Aug. 26, but two days later, he was placed on IR. Because his placement came after he made the initial roster, he can return this season, with the caveat that he misses at least four games. Once he's cleared to practice, the Falcons will have 21 days to either move Trice to the active roster or place him on season-ending IR.
Trice reinjured the same knee that kept off the field for the entirety of the 2024 season during the 2025 preseason.
Kaleb McGary, Right Tackle
Can he return in 2025? No.
When the Falcons released their initial roster on Aug. 26, McGary was notably on IR, without a designation to return. He injured his leg in the Atlanta's final practice of training camp.
Emory Jones, Quarterback
Can he return in 2025? No.
The Falcons waived/injury Jones on Aug. 18 after he sustained a concussion in Atlanta's second preseason game. He cleared waivers and then reverted to IR.
Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Offensive Lineman
Can he return in 2025? No.
The Falcons waived/injury Wheatley on Aug. 14. He cleared waivers and then reverted to IR. Wheatley's injury was never disclosed.
RESERVE/INJURED; DESIGNATED FOR RETURN
Ta'Quon Graham, Defensive Lineman
Can he return in 2025? Yes.
Placed: Aug. 26
Injury: Calf
On Aug. 12, Graham appeared to sustain a lower leg injury during the Falcons' first joint practice with the Tennessee Titans. Morris said the next day it was "a little something in his calf." At the time, Morris didn't think it was something significant. But when the Falcons' initial roster came out weeks later, Graham was noticeably on IR, with a designation to return, which means he needed to miss at least the first four games of the season. He can return once cleared. Then, the Falcons have 21 days to either move him to the active roster or place him on season-ending IR.
Storm Norton, Offensive Lineman
Can he return in 2025? Yes.
Placed: Aug. 26
Injury: Ankle
On Aug. 20, a report surfaced that Norton underwent ankle surgery and was expected to miss 6-8 weeks. If true, Norton should be back soon. He's right in the middle of that timeline. Norton had been dealing with that injury for a while, missing his first open practice of training camp on Aug. 1.
The Falcons placed Norton on IR with a designation to return at the same time they released their initial roster. Now that he has missed the minimum of four games, he can return once cleared. Then, he has 21 days to either be activated to the active roster or placed on season-ending IR.
RESERVE/NON-FOOTBALL INJURY
Malik Verdon, Inside Linebacker
Can he return in 2025? Yes.
Placed: July 24
Injury: Unknown
Verdon, an undrafted rookie, was placed on the Falcons' NFI list on the first day of training camp practice. His injury was never disclosed. He remained on NFI when Atlanta's initial roster came out, meaning he also had to miss at least four games before having the option to return. Once cleared, the Falcons have 21 days to either activate Verdon to the active roster or place him on season-ending IR.
RESERVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM
Troy Andersen, Inside Linebacker
Can he return in 2025? Yes.
Placed: July 24
Injury: Knee
Andersen was placed on the Falcons' PUP on the first day of training camp practice due to a knee injury. He remained on PUP when Atlanta's initial roster came out, so he, too, had to follow the four-game minimum rule. Now, Andersen can either be activated to the active roster or placed on season-ending IR. The Falcons will have 21 days to make that decision once Andersen is cleared.
