Falcons Continue Roster Shuffle

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons continued reshaping their roster following the initial cut to 53 players, making several moves at linebacker and along both lines while also assembling their practice squad.

Atlanta placed inside linebacker JD Bertrand on the reserve/injured list and signed veteran linebacker Josh Woods to the active roster in a corresponding move.

Woods is a familiar face in Flowery Branch after spending the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Falcons. Originally signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft out of Maryland, Woods has also spent time with the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals.

Over seven NFL seasons, Woods has appeared in 82 games with eight starts, totaling 137 tackles, including 85 solo, four tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, half a sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed.

Falcons Add Three Through Waivers

Atlanta also claimed linebackers Yasir Abdullah and Jared Ivey, along with offensive lineman Cameron Williams, off waivers.

To make room on the roster, the Falcons waived defensive backs Jammie Robinson and Natrone Brooks and defensive lineman Zach Harrison.

Abdullah was originally selected by Jacksonville in the fifth round with the 136th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He appeared in 29 games with three starts over three seasons with the Jaguars, recording 16 tackles and two quarterback hits.

Before entering the NFL, the Miramar, Florida, native played five seasons at Louisville, where he accumulated 210 tackles, 43 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks in 61 games. He also recorded 11 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Ivey returns to familiar territory as a Suwanee, Georgia, native. He originally signed with the Seattle Seahawks following the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss and appeared in two games as a rookie.

Before Ole Miss, Ivey spent two seasons at Georgia Tech. Across his collegiate career, he appeared in 38 games and totaled 125 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles.

Williams, meanwhile, gives Atlanta another option along the offensive line. The Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the sixth round with the 207th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Duncanville, Texas, native appeared in one game for Philadelphia as a rookie after playing three seasons at Texas.

Falcons Assemble Practice Squad

Atlanta also announced the signing of 15 players to its practice squad, bringing back several players who spent the summer competing for roster positions.

The group includes defensive tackle Carlos Allen Jr., wide receivers Vinny Anthony II, Dylan Drummond and Antwane Wells Jr., offensive linemen James Brockermeyer, Kam Dewberry and Riley Mahlman, cornerback Cobee Bryant, defensive back Darnay Holmes, running backs Tyler Goodson and Cash Jones, tight ends Nick Muse and Jack Velling, defensive end Cameron Sample and linebacker Josh Woods.

The Woods listing creates an apparent timing discrepancy in the supplied transactions because he is listed both as being signed to Atlanta’s active roster following Bertrand’s move to injured reserve and as part of the 15-player practice squad. That could reflect transactions announced at different points in the roster-building process.

Under NFL practice-squad rules, eligible players can be elevated to the active/inactive list for up to three regular-season games during the same league year, while postseason elevations are not subject to that three-game limit.

The latest moves show that Atlanta’s initial 53-man roster was only the beginning. With Bertrand heading to injured reserve, three players arriving through waiver claims and the practice squad taking shape, the Falcons continue adjusting their roster as attention turns toward the start of the 2026 regular season.