Atlanta Falcons announce new player to fill the void left by a key injury.

Atlanta Falcons announce new player to fill the void left by a key injury.

It was announced Wednesday that the player is in concussion protocol. Initially, the team indicated he missed practice due to illness, but this was updated to a concussion later in the day. He did not participate in practices on Thursday or Friday and was ruled out for the Week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks, as noted in the injury report.

He had started all but one game this season, contributing 11 tackles and two quarterback hits in the first six games while playing 50% of defensive snaps and 23% of special teams snaps.

A third-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 2018, he joined the team in 2022 and had his best season then, with 58 tackles, four sacks, and a pick-six. His standout year prior was in 2021 with five sacks for the Giants.

James Smith-Williams is expected to step in as a starter, given he is listed as the backup. This shift could also mean more snaps for Arnold Ebiketie.

With a spot now available on the 53-man roster, the team signed cornerback Kevin King. He has been with the team throughout the season, playing in all six games and logging minimal defensive snaps while contributing primarily on special teams.

King returned to the NFL this offseason after a two-year hiatus, having missed the 2022 season for personal reasons and the 2023 season due to injury. He previously spent five seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where he had his best year in 2019, recording 66 tackles and multiple key defensive plays.

In addition to roster changes, the team announced cornerback Natrone Brooks and defensive lineman Demone Harris as their standard practice squad elevations for Week 7. This will be both players’ first elevations in 2024.

Brooks is yet to make his NFL debut since joining as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Harris aims to appear in his 15th career game, with the Falcons being his fourth team, having played previously for the Buccaneers, Chiefs, and Texans.

The Falcons will face the Seahawks at 1 p.m. ET, airing live on FOX from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Previous practice squad elevations this season include multiple players across several weeks, with teams allowed to elevate two practice squad members per game, up to three times each. After that, they must be signed to the active roster.