Samson Ebukam, the Falcons’ defensive end, was officially placed on injured reserve Tuesday, the team announced, confirming what coach Kevin Seiftert had already indicated about their lineup for Madrid. This move is a gut punch, especially with their international matchup just days away.
Ebukam’s Hamstring Puts Atlanta’s Defense on Notice
Ebukam’s IR stint stems from a hamstring injury, which has also sidelined wide receiver Zachariah Branch. Coach Seiftert had already told everyone that the Falcons would likely be without both players for their upcoming game in Madrid. Losing a pass rusher like Ebukam is never easy, especially when he’s been putting in solid work this season. He’s stacked up 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and nine quarterback hits so far this year. You just can’t easily replace that kind of production on the D-line.
Roster Shuffle Kicks Off to Fill the Gaps
This isn’t Ebukam’s first rodeo. He’s been around the league for four seasons, playing with the 49ers in 2022-23, the Commanders in 2025, and now the Falcons in 2026. Across those 28 career games, he’s tallied 24 tackles, six sacks, one interception, nine passes defensed, nine quarterback hits, and five tackles for loss. Those are impact numbers. To try and fill the void, the Falcons made a couple of immediate roster moves. They signed defensive end Drake Jackson to their practice squad and, in a corresponding move, released offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal from the practice squad. With Ebukam and Branch now officially out for the Madrid game, the Falcons are going to have to dig deep. They’ve got a tough road ahead without some key playmakers, and it’s on the rest of the squad to step up big.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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