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, maybe more than any other to this point, there is a lot of news to digest.
The News, Now
Key developments on the field and roster move analysis
There was no shortage of news to cover this week. The Falcons set their initial roster on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET and their practice squad over the course of Wednesday and Thursday as players cleared waivers, but those rosters didn't stay the same for long, mainly with the additions of key offensive tackle depth pieces.
Atlanta sent a conditional 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Michael Jerrell. They then added a duo of offensive tackles to their practice squad.
Meanwhile, more injury news came to light as the Falcons made the bulk of their roster decisions. For starters, starting right tackle Kaleb McGary was placed on injured reserve prior to cuts being made Tuesday. This means he is done for the 2025 season.
The Falcons later placed edge rusher Bralen Trice on injured reserve as well. However, Trice was placed on IR after cuts were made, which means he could return in 2025. Head coach Raheem Morris said Thursday, though, that the team is still waiting for more clarity as it relates to Trice's return-to-play timeline.
As Morris explained, Trice injured the same knee that kept him off the field for the entirety of his rookie campaign in 2024. Morris said the best-case scenario for Trice is that he would return after the bye week, but that a procedure on the knee is likely incoming. More information on his status will be known thereafter.
As for the plan at right tackle, Morris detailed the options the Falcons have. Despite the team picking up those few new faces we mentioned above at tackle, Morris said it would "be hard" for those individuals to usurp players who spent training camp in Atlanta. Mainly, Elijah Wilkinson who the team is penciling in as the frontrunner right now.
"Those guys will be competing for the right now of being able to go out there and play right tackle for us and having those guys out there getting ready to go, giving those guys the best opportunity to mesh and move forward to go get a win versus Tampa," Morris said. "... I got a lot of confidence in those guys that were here (for the preseason)."
In other starting lineup news, Morris also said both Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. will start at safety and nickel come the Falcons' Week 1 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
To round out the week's slate of news, Tori McElhaney took to the Falcons Mailbag to answer fans' questions about all the moves that were made this week.
Fan Zone Highlights
Tweets, videos and podcasts you may have missed
In the Nest
Behind-the-scenes stories, locker room insight into team culture
This week, Terrin Waack spent time diving into 53-man roster numbers. Prior to the initial cut down, she took a look at how the numbers could shake out and what the expectation should be. After cut downs were made, she looked across the league at how other teams handled their initial rosters.
Waack also began the week with a feature story on Falcons practice squad edge rusher Khalid Kareem. After being a vegan for three-plus years, Kareem began introducing animal-based proteins to improve his body composition. It's a really interesting read about players who choose a different nutrition plan than the norm.
Game Day Intel
Upcoming match previews and predictions
This is the final weekend before the 2025 season begins, which means there is no game-related information of which to share. Check back in next week, though, because this section will be full as the Falcons take on the Buccaneers in an NFC South showdown to kick off the 2025 season.
Until then, check out the 2025 Uniform Schedule to get your game day fits in order.
Join the Atlanta Falcons on the practice field as they gear up for the 2025-2026 season in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier #25 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 and Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron #65 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #4 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jamal Agnew #14 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. #33, Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3, and Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #17 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons assistant head coach of defense Jerry Gray during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison #96 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts #31 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 and Atlanta Falcons defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. #33 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Michael Jerrell #72 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair #19 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker JD Bertrand #40 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Clark Phillips III #22 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts #31 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, August 28, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
