FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons got some good news as 2025 comes to a close. Defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus has a hamstring injury. He will miss time, according to head coach Raheem Morris, but nothing close to what was originally feared when he was injured on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams just a few plays after notching his 8.5 sack of the year.
"We dodged a big-time bullet," Morris said. "We feel pretty good about the injury. He's going to miss a couple of weeks. Obviously, going to miss this game, but we do feel really good about what happened, as opposed to what everybody thought."
Dorlus went down with what was originally thought to be a knee injury. He was helped off the field by trainers as he struggled to put pressure on his left side. After being evaluated on the sideline, an emotional Dorlus was carted to the locker room.
After more imaging and evaluations, though, it was determined that Dorlus suffered a hamstring injury and that there was no ligament damage in his knee.
Though the Falcons will finish the 2025 season without Dorlus, this isn't an issue that should linger for the second-year defensive lineman tied for the team lead in sacks; not at all like a knee injury that requires surgery would.
One would be hard pressed to find an interior lineman who had as big of a jump from Year 1 to Year 2 as Dorlus did with the Falcons. After only seeing action in two games in 2024, Dorlus became not only someone this Falcons defense could rely on in a rotation but depend on to make a big play. Only Tennessee's Jeffrey Simmons has more sacks than Dorlus among defensive tackles in the league. Along with his 8.5 sacks on the year, Dorlus also notched 11 quarterback hits and tackles for a loss.
In other injury news, the Falcons will continue to be without starting cornerback Mike Hughes, too. Hughes has missed the last two games for Atlanta. Rookie undrafted free agent Cobee Bryant filled in for Hughes when he went out against Tampa Bay and he got the start the next week against Arizona. He split time that game with C.J. Henderson, who started Monday night's game opposite A.J. Terrell.
You can view the Falcons' estimated Wednesday injury report below, and the full weekly reports for Atlanta and New Orleans here.
Wednesday, Dec. 31 — Estimate
Full Participation
- N/A
Limited Participation
- WR Drake London (knee)
- TE Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee)
- S DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring)
- DL Sam Roberts (knee / ankle)
Did Not Participate
- CB Mike Hughes (ankle)
- CB Clark Phillips III (triceps / illness)
- DL Brandon Dorlus (hamstring)
Take a look at some of the best film photography from Week 17, when the Falcons went against the Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the classic throwback uniforms.
