The Falcons’ dinged up defense will get some help on Sunday after Atlanta activated starting cornerback AJ Terrell from injured reserve. The former second-team All-Pro corner will return to the starting lineup after missing the minimum required four games with a groin injury. In a corresponding move, the team placed swing tackle Michael Jerrell on IR.
Terrell, a former first-rounder out of Clemson, was a bit of a mixed bag to start his career in Atlanta. He’s been a full-time starter since Day 1 and had some struggles in coverage throughout his rookie campaign, but he made up for some of it by causing turnovers, as evidenced by his three forced fumbles. He cleaned things up in Year 2 and was granted second-team All-Pro honors after returning a career-high three interceptions for 42 yards and tallying up 16 passes defensed.
Terrell regressed a bit in his third season, but the Falcons still chose to exercise his fifth-year option in an attempt to work towards a long-term extension. He rewarded them with another strong year, earning himself a four-year, $81MM deal to stay in Atlanta. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) seems to like Terrell in odd years only. In 2020, 2022, and 2024, he ranked 52nd, 52nd, and 55th among qualifying cornerbacks. He ranked as the second-best cornerback in the league in his sophomore season and ranked 25th in 2023.
In Terrell’s four-week absence this year, the Falcons have manned the boundary with a pair of former first-round picks seeking redemption in C.J. Henderson and Mike Hughes, and Henderson has earned quite a bit of grace with a strong string of games in his second year in Atlanta. Hughes has been with the Falcons in a starting role for four years now, but he hasn’t been as strong this year as in prior years. The team also rosters Terrell’s younger brother Avieon Terrell, a second-round rookie — also out of Clemson — who can work on the outside or in the slot.
The elder Terrell figures to regain a starting spot upon his return, but it will be interesting to see if Hughes or Henderson sits, as a result. At least this week, the younger Terrell is out with an illness, so there will be plenty of snaps to go around in Week 7.
In addition to the IR transactions, the Falcons announced the signing of defensive end Drake Jackson to their 53-man roster from the practice squad. Running back Khalil Herbert and linebacker Brian Asamoah will join Jackson off the practice squad this week as standard gameday practice squad elevations. Unlike Jackson, they will revert to the taxi squad after tomorrow’s game.
