Falcons activate A.J. Terrell, make roster moves ahead of 49ers
The Atlanta Falcons activated cornerback A.J. Terrell from injured reserve and announced multiple roster moves on Oct. 24, 2026, ahead of their Week 7 game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, against the San Francisco 49ers. The team placed offensive tackle Michael Jerrell on injured reserve with a bicep injury and signed defensive end Drake Jackson to the active roster. The announcements were made at the Falcons’ facility in Flowery Branch, Ga., as the club prepared for its home matchup.
Terrell had been on injured reserve for four weeks after suffering a groin injury in Week 2, and his 21-day window to return opened Wednesday following full participation in practice. Once activated, Terrell no longer carries a game designation and the Falcons said he is expected to play Sunday. The move restores an experienced option in Atlanta’s secondary as the team gets ready for the 49ers.
Jerrell’s placement on injured reserve came after a Friday game report also listed inside linebacker Divine Deablo, defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. and running back Brian Robinson as out for the 49ers game. The Falcons acquired Jerrell from the Seattle Seahawks in August 2025 for a conditional seventh-round pick; he originally was drafted by Seattle in 2024. Jackson, who joined the Falcons’ practice squad in September, was elevated as a standard practice-squad move in each of the last two games and was signed to fill Jerrell’s active roster spot.
Atlanta used its two standard practice-squad elevations for Week 7 on running back Khalil Herbert and linebacker Brian Asamoah. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that with Brian Robinson unavailable due to a hamstring injury, Herbert is expected to act as Bijan Robinson’s backup against the 49ers. The Falcons acquired Herbert in September after he spent August with San Francisco, and his NFL stops have included the Jets, Seahawks, the Indianapolis Professional Football Team and the Bengals following his selection by the Chicago Bears in 2021.
Deablo did not participate in practice all week with a forearm injury and was ruled out Friday, leaving the linebacking corps short-handed as rookie Kendal Daniels carries a questionable designation after suffering a neck injury in Week 6. Daniels’ progress through the week was described as positive; he told reporters Wednesday that he felt good and that the door was open for him to play Sunday. The club also noted that defensive back Avieon Terrell has an illness and remains questionable, while wide receiver Beaux Collins (hip) and offensive tackle Cameron Williams (ankle) remain on injured reserve and are ruled out.
The Falcons will release their inactives list 90 minutes prior to kickoff Sunday. The team reiterated the NFL practice-squad elevation rules that allow two elevations per game and permit a player to be elevated three times in a season before a 53-man roster signing is required. The organization also released Week 7 practice photos as part of its media materials.
NFL Sports Blog Take
A.J. Terrell’s activation provides an immediate boost to Atlanta’s secondary and should help stabilize the cornerback rotation against a potent San Francisco passing attack. Michael Jerrell’s move to injured reserve removes a tackle option from a thin offensive-line room, but signing Drake Jackson to the active roster gives the Falcons additional defensive-end depth that they had been relying on through practice-squad elevations. Elevating Khalil Herbert addresses an immediate need behind Bijan Robinson with Brian Robinson sidelined, while Brian Asamoah offers linebacker depth as the team copes with Divine Deablo’s absence and the uncertain status of rookie Kendal Daniels. Overall, the moves reflect short-term roster management to cover injuries while returning a key starter to the lineup for a critical Week 7 game.