FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons News Now is your go-to source for the real stories coming out of Flowery Branch each week. We're providing a one-stop shop for you to browse through all Falcons-related news at the end of every week of the 2025 season — who's winning reps, who's earning trust and what's happening in and around your favorite team.
From roster move analysis, practice intel, big-play highlights and so much more, this isn't just the news you need, it's what shapes Sundays in Atlanta.
Ultimately, if something matters to this locker room, it makes this newsletter.
So, if you eat, sleep and breathe Falcons football? This is your inside edge — every update, every storyline, all in one place. And this week? The Falcons host the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, hoping for redemption after being shutout by the NFC South foe in Week 3.
The News, Now
Key developments on the field and roster move analysis
The Falcons made a few notable roster moves as Week 11 progressed, including two names going to injured reserve.
Offensive tackle Storm Norton reverted back to injured reserve this week as his 21-day window to return to the active roster officially closed. Norton underwent a reported ankle surgery during the preseason and was expected back following the team's bye week. That came to pass with Norton returning to practice a few weeks ago. He was a full participant for the first handful of practices but then experienced a setback that pulled him out of practices. Now back on injured reserve, league rules dictate Norton is out for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, hybrid linebacker and core special teams contributor DeAngelo Malone was placed on injured reserve as well with a significant ankle injury that reportedly required surgery.
"(Malone) is going to miss time, had a big-time injury," head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday. "He'll be going to IR. That was the big one."
For all injury news, you can view all three Falcons injury reports below, including the game designations given (or not given) on Friday.
Wednesday, Nov. 12: Drake London among 11 players who do not participate in first practice of Panthers prep
Thursday, Nov. 13: Two starting offensive linemen miss second straight practice
Friday, Nov 14: Lengthy game report has 13 players listed with game designations, including Drake London, Chris Lindstrom and Mike Hughes
How did the rest of the league fair in Week 10? Tori McElhaney breaks it down in her weekly power rankings, while Will McFadden also highlighted the NFC South's performance.
Plus, check out this week's mailbags where Tori and Will answer your burning questions about the state of the Falcons.
Falcons Mailbag No. 1, via Tori McElhaney: Can Atlanta gain ground with NFC South wins?
Falcons Mailbag No. 2, via Will McFadden: The right balance for Bijan Robinson, Michael Penix Jr.'s mindset
Fan Zone Highlights
Tweets, videos and podcasts you may have missed
In the Nest
Behind-the-scenes stories, locker room insight into team culture
The Falcons have a third-down problem. They have only converted one of their 19 appearance on third down in their last two losses. Since they began their current 4-game slide, they have only converted third downs at a rate of 20%. It isn't good enough, and issues in these gotta-have-it moments have become trends.
In her film study this week, Tori McElhaney took a look at all 107 third-down plays the Falcons have ran this year. What she found were three main consistencies. The bad news is that there were commonalities of which to find. The good news is all of them are indeed fixable. Here's a summary of those trends:
- The Falcons' offensive line continues to struggle with picking up defensive stunts, leading to frequent free rushers and suggesting possible issues with either protection calls or individual execution.
- Michael Penix Jr. has been inconsistent and at times inaccurate on third down, completing just 17% of third-and-5-plus attempts for first downs, as he often opts for deeper throws instead of taking — potentially — easier completions.
- The team's route concepts on third-and-long frequently develop too slowly for the current protection level, leaving Penix under pressure before receivers are open.
Until the Falcons fix their protection breakdowns, sharpen Penix's decision-making and speed up their route development, third-and-long (particularly) will keep being the place drives go to die.
Meanwhile, the reason the Falcons are in too many third-and-long situations to begin with is because the run game is struggling to consistently pick up yards on first and second downs. This is not because of a lack of talent, though. Everyone knows what Bijan Robinson is for this team, but Tyler Allgeier remains a major cog in the offensive wheel, too.
"He's one of those guys that just comes to work every day and does his job," Morris said. "We talk about these operational executions, these operations pieces, and it's just what Tyler is. Wherever you put him, whatever you ask him to do, he's able to go out there and have that resiliency and that toughness. He's able to just play the game, play the play — whatever it is — and be ready to go. That's why we love him."
Terrin Waack explores why Allgeier is the Falcons' "quiet superstar" on offense.
Game Day Intel
Upcoming match previews and predictions
Catch up on any Falcons lineup changes in the Week 11 depth chart.
Who do the experts predict will win on Sunday? Terrin Waack has a comprehensive list in this week's Expert Picks.
Stats and milestones brought to you by StatsPerform:
- Seven different Falcons players recorded 1.0 sack against the Colts last Sunday. The Falcons are one of two teams this season (Broncos) to have seven or more players record at least one sack in a game and became the first Falcons defense to do so since sacks became official in 1982.
- Since Michael Penix Jr.'s first career start in Week 16 of last season, he and Drake London have totaled 1,034 receiving yards. That ranks second in the NFL in receiving yards among QB/WR combos over that span (Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba – 1,041).
- Atlanta is allowing opponents to convert on third-and-one just 50.0% of the time, tied for the second-lowest percentage in the NFL. The league average is 67.9%.
