The Falcons are going to be without their star cornerback A.J. Terrell for a while, and that’s a tough pill to swallow for Atlanta fans. The team officially placed Terrell on injured reserve this Tuesday, September 22, 2026. This isn’t just a bump in the road; Terrell’s absence means he’ll miss the crucial Thursday night game against the Packers and won’t be back in action until well beyond Week 3. That’s a huge blow to their defensive backfield.
Terrell’s Groin Injury Sends Ripples Through the Falcons’ Secondary
This all went down during Sunday’s tough loss to the Panthers when Terrell had to leave the game. He was initially evaluated for both a concussion and a groin injury. Good news first, he didn’t suffer a concussion. But that groin injury? That’s what landed him on IR. Talk about bad timing. C.J. Henderson stepped up when Terrell went down against Carolina, and now he’s the guy, likely starting alongside Mike Hughes. That’s a huge test for Henderson and Hughes, stepping into that spotlight with a key player out. Can they hold it down? The Falcons need them to.
Practice Squad Scramble as Atlanta Shakes Up the Roster
Beyond the immediate starters, the Falcons are digging deep into their cornerback depth chart. Billy Bowman was inactive for the Carolina game, but if he’s healthy, he joins Avieon Terrell, Mike Ford, and Malcolm DeWalt as other options for the position. They’re going to need all hands on deck now. To fill Terrell’s open roster spot, the team signed defensive lineman Zach Harrison straight off their practice squad. They also kept the roster moves coming, releasing center James Brockermeyer from the practice squad and bringing in offensive tackle Colby Sorsdal. It’s a quick shuffle for Atlanta as they try to patch things up.
With the Packers coming to town on Thursday night, the Falcons’ secondary faces a massive challenge. C.J. Henderson and Mike Hughes are in the spotlight, and those depth guys need to be ready for their number to be called. It’s a tough break, but Atlanta has to buckle down and make sure this injury doesn’t derail their early season.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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