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 are heading to the west coast to take on a San Francisco 49ers team that could see the return of one — if not two — of its top playmakers.
The News, Now
Key developments on the field and roster move analysis
The biggest news of the week involved Bijan Robinson putting the league on notice after a premiere performance on Monday Night Football. His stats and milestones made headlines. He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. And a very special project months in the making went live.
"The art is when you're watching 6-foot, 222 pounds of elite athlete manipulate his body," running backs coach Michael Pitre said. "The flexibility in his ankles, knees, hips — the way he contorts himself into angles most of us would get hurt trying to mimic — that's art. But then, to do it at full speed with 11 guys trying to take you down? ... That's the art."
As Tori McElhaney wrote in the feature story for the project, "the juke does not belong to nor was it derived from one specific player. It's a running technique that has evolved over time to evade defenders. And no one pulls off the modern adaptation of the move more elusively than Robinson." She explores the science and psychology of Robinson's go-to move, while Jenny Ross masterfully put together the feature video that showcases the art in action.
You can watch the video below.
The main injury news coming out of the Falcons' camp this week still revolved around a collection of starters who did not participate in practice Thursday. That group included Jake Matthews, Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud on offense, and Jalon Walker and Billy Bowman Jr. on defense.
While the jury is still out on the offense's guys, the Falcons ruled out Walker and Bowman, both of whom are dealing with soft tissue injuries.
You can view all three Falcons injury reports below, including the game designations given (or not given) on Friday:
Wednesday, Oct. 15: Jake Matthews, 2 rookies listed as non-participants in practice estimate
Thursday, Oct. 16: Jalon Walker among 4 starters who miss practice
Friday, Oct. 17: Jalon Walker, Billy Bowman Jr., Ray-Ray McCloud ruled out for Sunday Night Football
How did the rest of the league fair in Week 6? Tori McElhaney breaks it down in her weekly power rankings, while Will McFadden highlights the NFC South's performance.
Plus, check out this week's mailbags where Tori answers your burning questions about the state of the Falcons.
Falcons Mailbag: What is Tyler Allgeier's value amongst Bijan Robinson's rise?
Finally, this week's Nerdy Birds put a spotlight is on Robinson — of course. Matt Haley explores the notion that Robinson is even more like 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey than you may think.
Fan Zone Highlights
Tweets, videos and podcasts you may have missed
In the Nest
Behind-the-scenes stories, locker room insight into team culture
When Atlanta was down two receivers in Monday night's game, Drake London shifted into gear.
"He's an absolute dog," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "When he gets the ball in his hand, he's ferocious, he's vicious, he's tough. He brings a certain amount of toughness to our team."
Meanwhile, the defense proved it is more than worthy of the top spot in the league, taking a "big step forward" against the reigning MVP in Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
According to Terrin Waack's reporting, as the Falcons enter Week 7, they have the No. 1 defense in yards allowed, No. 1 pass defense, No. 17 run defense and No. 7 in scoring defense. Atlanta has allowed an average of 253.4 total yards, 139.4 passing yards, 114 rushing yards and 20 points per game. They have yet to give up 300 yards of offense to any offense they have faced yet.
The team as a whole came into the 2025 season with a prove-it mentality, Will McFadden wrote. They proved something in their win against the Bills.
"No single training camp statement or extended preseason monologue could have ever resonated as loudly as the Atlanta Falcons' 24-14 victory against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night."
Game Day Intel
Upcoming match previews and predictions
Falcons depth chart released for Week 7 vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
Who do the experts have taking the win Monday? Terrin Waack has got you covered with a comprehensive list in this week's Experts Picks.
Stats and milestones brought to you by StatsPerform:
- There have been 28 instances in NFL history of a player having multiple 100-yard rushing games and multiple 100-yard receiving games in the same season, including Bijan Robinson this year. Of those 28, only two have done so within the team's first five games of a season: Robinson and Buffalo's Thurman Thomas in 1991.
- Drake London recorded his fourth career game with 10+ receptions and 150+ receiving yards, the second most in Falcons' history behind Julio Jones (11). London is averaging 84.9 receiving yards per game in primetime games, second-most in Falcons' history (Julio Jones, 97.5 | min. two primetime games).
- The Falcons have recorded five defensive interceptions and forced eight turnovers through their first five games this season. The last time Atlanta forced more interceptions and turnovers through five games of a season was 2015 (six interceptions, 10 turnovers).
Bijan Robinson's explosive week six performance has earned him NFL Offensive Player of the Week—relive his dominant runs through these stunning photos.
