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 face a team that's record may be deceiving in the Arizona Cardinals.

The News, Now

Key developments on the field and roster move analysis

The main piece of news this week revolved around whether the Falcons would have access to Drake London this Sunday for the first time in a month. London suffered a PCL strain in his knee late in the Falcons' Week 11 loss to the Carolina Panthers. He has been inactive since. London finally returned to the practice field this week in a limited fashion.

However, between head coach Raheem Morris and London himself, it seems very likely the Falcons will see the return of London to the active game day roster.

Morris said in his Wednesday presser that he was "very hopeful" about London's return. Meanwhile, London told reported Thursday that he is "trending in the right direction" to get the green light Sunday.

"I want to get back out there quick as possible," London said. "But everything is going smoothly. I've been making good strides and leaps. That's all I can ask for."

In other injury news, Morris and the Falcons ruled starting cornerback Mike Hughes out of Sunday's game in Arizona after suffering an ankle injury six plays into the Falcons' Thursday night bout with Tampa. Could this open a doorway for undrafted rookie Cobee Bryant to get a starting look? We analyze that possibility.

"He (showed) no fear, no blink," Morris said of Bryant stepping in for Hughes last week. "And I love the mentality that he has."

You can view Atlanta's reports from the week below and check out the full reports from Atlanta and Arizona here.

Wednesday, Dec. 17: Drake London returns to practice

Thursday, Dec. 18: Kyle Pitts, Drake London limited

Friday, Dec. 19: Drake London, two defensive starters listed as questionable

How did the rest of the league fair in Week 15? Tori McElhaney breaks it down in her weekly power rankings, while Will McFadden highlighted the NFC South's performance.

Last week's mailbag focused on the short- and long-term future of Drake London. With London playing on his fifth-year option in 2026, many were wondering what a deal with him could look like.

This week's mailbag follows a similar line of questioning, only this week the inquiries involve Kyle Pitts and what a recent uptick in production could mean for his future.

Fan Zone Highlights

Tweets, videos and podcasts you may have missed

In the Nest

Behind-the-scenes stories, locker room insight into team culture

Though there were a number of significant individual efforts in the Falcons' Week 15 win, there were two that turned the most heads (and perhaps made the biggest impact) on the prime-time stage.

Offensively, it was Kyle Pitts' career-high day in which he accumulated 166 yards and three touchdowns. He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.

Pitts became the eighth tight end all-time to record at least 150 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in a game, and the first tight end to do so since Shannon Sharpe during the 1996 season. Pitts' 338 receiving yards over his last three games are the most ever by a Falcons tight end in a three-game span.

Defensively, Terrin Waack put a spotlight on Dee Alford, who's late-game interception of Baker Mayfield was integral to the win. It was a moment that highlighted what Alford himself calls a "redemption" season.

"His versatility, first and foremost," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said about Alford's importance this week. "The ability to play outside and inside, I think people underestimate how difficult that is. Playing inside, especially in the system that we've put in here this year, is very linebacker-ish from a running perspective. It's very corner-ish from a matching man perspective. It's very safety-ish from a communication standpoint and a zone perspective. So, you have to learn so much. I haven't seen a whole lot of guys have a lot of success swinging back and forth, especially within the same season, and he has done that in such an amazing way this year."

Game Day Intel

Upcoming match previews and predictions

Catch up on any Falcons lineup changes in the Week 16 depth char.

As well as who the experts are picking as the Falcons take on the Cardinals.

Stats and milestones brought to you by StatsPerform:

• The Falcons' last three games against the Cardinals have been decided by a total of four points. Atlanta is looking for its first win in Arizona since the 2001 season and can tie the all-time regular-season series vs. the Cardinals at 17-17 with a victory on Sunday.
• James Pearce Jr. has recorded 8.0 sacks this season, the most by a Falcons rookie in a single season since individual sacks were officially recorded in 1982. Pearce Jr. has recorded at least one sack in six straight games, tied for the second-longest streak by any NFL rookie since
  individual sacks were officially recorded (1999, Jevon Kearse with eight).
• Kirk Cousins recorded his ninth game with at least 350 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and zero interceptions last Thursday. Cousins' nine such games are tied with Aaron Rodgers for the second-most among active QBs (Patrick Mahomes – 10).