Atlanta Falcons place Samson Ebukam on injured reserve
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons placed defensive end Samson Ebukam on injured reserve (IR) on Nov. 3, 2026, after he suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s Nov. 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. League rules require players designated to injured reserve to miss at least four games, meaning Ebukam will be sidelined for at least a month of games. The Falcons announced the roster move on Nov. 3, 2026; the source article reporting the move also carried that publication date.
Ebukam has been a key contributor to Atlanta’s pass rush this season when healthy. Through seven game appearances, he has totaled 2.5 sacks, 11 combined tackles, including two for a loss, and nine quarterback hits. He also has recorded 15 pressures across those seven games, a total the Falcons said ranks fifth among their defenders.
The Falcons said Ebukam and wide receiver Zachariah Branch were likely to be unavailable for the team’s upcoming game in Madrid after both left Sunday’s contest with hamstring injuries. Falcons officials ruled both players out for the week, but only Ebukam has received the injured reserve designation at this time. Branch remained on the active roster while Ebukam began the IR process.
Ebukam had already missed time earlier this season with a hamstring issue, sitting out the Week 3 game against the Green Bay Packers after not practicing that week. Under NFL rules, after the minimum four-game absence a player placed on IR may begin a 21-day practice window for return-to-play evaluation. If a team does not activate a player to the 53-man roster during that window, the designation becomes season-ending.
The Falcons signed Ebukam as a free agent in March after he spent three seasons with the Indianapolis Professional Football Team and two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Ebukam was originally a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2017 NFL Draft. Over his near-decade-long career, he has totaled 37.5 sacks, more than 200 tackles and 11 forced fumbles.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Placing Samson Ebukam on injured reserve removes a veteran edge presence who had provided measurable pressure and occasional sacks this season. The minimum four-game absence and potential 21-day practice window give the Falcons a timeline for his return, but his recurring hamstring trouble raises availability concerns. Atlanta will need younger or backup pass rushers to replace his snaps and sustain pressure production while he recovers, which could alter situational pass-rush packages and rotation patterns.