Headlines

Atlanta Falcons News & Rumors

Falcons WR Ray-Ray McCloud Dismissed From Practice

By | at October 17, 2025 9:35 pm

An interesting report came out of Atlanta this afternoon that could see bigger implications in the near future. According to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris sent wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud home from practice today. Few details were provided as Morris called it “a private matter between the team and McCloud,” but the head coach indicated that “he doesn’t know if McCloud will return.”

Falcons senior reporter Tori McElhaney added that McCloud has already been ruled out for the team’s Sunday night trip to San Francisco. This will be the second game in a row in which McCloud will be a healthy scratch. After missing Monday’s win over the Bills, McCloud has been a non-participant at practice all week for the Falcons. Despite the rough look of today’s departure, it doesn’t appear to be a punishment for the veteran receiver.

“I sent him home, an excused absence,” Morris told reporters. “We are working through some things that are private with the young man, and we will get those things figured out.”

Morris made sure to stress that, whatever McCloud is dealing with, this isn’t a reaction to the team’s decision to fire wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard back in September. “This is between Ray-Ray, the organization, and us,” Morris continued. “…I wouldn’t say it is a disciplinary thing, more of a football thing with something we have to get straightened out.”

McCloud’s absences have been difficult for Atlanta as fellow wide receiver Darnell Mooney has missed two games this year, as well, the most recent with a hamstring injury. Mooney has been limited in practice all week as he deals with the ailing hamstring, and he didn’t participate at all today. If Mooney, once again, can’t go on Sunday, the receiving corps Atlanta takes cross country will be a thin one.

Last week, behind leading receiver Drake London, it was second-year pass-catcher Casey Washington and converted college quarterback David Sills taking up most of the available snaps on offense. They seemed to serve mostly as decoys, though, as London drew 16 targets to Washington’s two and Sills’ zero, and all other passes were directed at running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier and tight end Kyle Pitts.

It may be more of the same this weekend with McCloud out and Mooney trending in the wrong direction. As for McCloud, hopefully more details will emerge to give some insight into his path moving forward. After breaking out last year for by far a career-best 62 catches for 686 yards in his seventh NFL season and with his fifth NFL team, this has been an extremely disappointing follow up for the 29-year-old. He and the team will now work to get things back on track.

1 comment Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Designate S Jordan Fuller For Return

By | at October 16, 2025 7:25 pm

The Falcons will soon be adding some depth to their secondary. According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, the team designated Jordan Fuller for return from injured reserve today.

Fuller suffered a knee injury in Week 1 that landed him on injured reserve. The veteran only required a minimum four-game stay on IR before returning to practice. The team now has 21 days to activate Fuller to the active roster.

Fuller joined the Falcons on a one-year contract this past offseason. This followed a one-year stop in Carolina, where he started all nine of his appearances while missing a chunk of games thanks to a hamstring injury. The former sixth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Rams, where he quickly emerged as a starting safety.

Besides an injury-plagued 2022 campaign, Fuller otherwise started all 45 of his appearances for the organization. During his final two healthy seasons in Los Angeles (2021 and 2023), the defensive back collected 207 total tackles and four interceptions, with Pro Football Focus grading him as an above-average safety during those two campaigns.

While Fuller started Week 1, he mostly played behind Xavier Watts in that contest. The rookie third-round pick has since solidified himself in the starting lineup opposite Jessie Bates, meaning Fuller is eyeing a similar backup role when he’s ready to return. Billy Bowman Jr. likely represents the veteran’s competition for snaps. Bowman saw some significant reps for the team prior to the bye (mostly at cornerback), although he was a healthy scratch when the team returned in Week 6.

0 comments Atlanta Falcons Transactions

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/13/25

By | at October 13, 2025 7:29 pm

Here are the latest moves from around the NFL,including practice squad elevations for all four teams playing on Monday Night Football:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Signed off Ravens’ practice squad: S J.T. Gray

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

  • Waived: OL Isaac Alarcon

Washington Commanders

The Bears elevated Moody to kick in their Monday night matchup with the Commanders with Cairo Santos sidelined by a quad injury.

0 comments Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers Transactions Washington Commanders

Darnell Mooney Out For Week 6

By | at October 11, 2025 2:21 pm

  • The Falcons will go without receiver Darnell Mooney on Monday against the Bills, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Mooney, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, will miss his second game of the season. He missed a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers after suffering a shoulder injury in late July. With 64 catches, 992 yards, and five touchdowns in his first season with the Falcons in 2024, the former Bear enjoyed one of the best years of his career. His production has dropped over three games this year, though, with Mooney having caught seven of 16 targets for 79 yards. No. 1 receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, and running back Bijan Robinson are the only Falcons with double-digit receptions this season.
4 comments Atlanta Falcons Detroit Lions Washington Commanders

Traded Draft Picks For 2026

By | at October 8, 2025 8:05 pm

Many months remain before teams know where they are picking in the 2026 draft, but many clubs have made moves to acquire 2026 draft capital. Headlined by the Browns, Rams and Cowboys’ efforts, here are the 2026 picks to have changed hands thus far. When more deals involving picks are made (or conditions on moves already completed become known), that information will be added.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

5 comments 2026 NFL Draft Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/25

By | at October 7, 2025 7:18 pm

Here are Tuesday’s minor NFL moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

The Falcons and Bears have opened the 21-day practice windows for three injured reserve players today. All three will have the next three weeks in which they can participate in practice until they are completely cleared and able to be activated off of IR at any time during that window. If they fail to be activated after 21 days, they will revert to IR and will not be eligible to be activated to the active roster again this season.

Technically, Graham and Homer were already designated to return in the preseason. At the roster cut deadline, each team can designate two players on IR to be eligible to return after missing at least four games of the regular season. Any other players on IR when the initial 53-man roster is set will not be eligible to return to the roster during that year. Graham and Homer were both one of those designations for their respective teams.

Booker, on the other hand, was placed on IR after the roster cut deadline and has just now been designated to return. The protocol from here on out for each player will be the same.

1 comment Atlanta Falcons Chicago Bears Indianapolis Colts Transactions

Anthony Richardson, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins Not Drawing Trade Interest

By | at October 4, 2025 10:46 pm

With experienced starting quarterbacks Anthony Richardson (Colts), Russell Wilson (Giants), and Kirk Cousins (Falcons) occupying backup roles for their teams, it stands to reason any of the three could wind up on the move before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. However, four weeks into the season, nobody from that group has drawn interest, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.

Of that trio, Richardson is the least likely to change hands, according to Jones. The former fourth overall pick (2023) disappointed during his first two years in the league, and he then lost a preseason competition to Daniel Jones for the Colts’ starting job this summer. Jones has since gotten off to a surprisingly fast start for the 3-1 Colts, further calling Richardson’s future into question.

The Colts are inclined to keep Richardson through the season, though, as he’ll remain under team control in 2026. He has a fifth-year option for 2027 that Indianapolis will have to decide on in the offseason. Unless his stock rises dramatically this year, it would be a shock if the Colts exercised it.

With the Giants having benched Wilson for rookie Jaxson Dart in late September, the 36-year-old looks like the most logical trade candidate of this group. The Giants haven’t actively sought out offers for Wilson, per Jones, but that could change over the next month. They already have another veteran backup in Jameis Winston under contract for next season.

Wilson, on the other hand, is due to reach free agency again during the spring after signing a one-year, $10.5MM contract with the Giants. An acquiring team would take on Wilson’s prorated $2MM base salary while likely surrendering a Day 3 draft pick, Jones hears.

Despite a quality track record as a starter, it’s no surprise that Cousins hasn’t drawn interest. His contract – which comes with expensive guarantees in the form of a $27.5MM base salary this year and a $10MM roster bonus for 2026 – is prohibitive. The Falcons would reportedly want an acquiring team to take on Cousins’ financial commitments and give up a premium draft pick. Barring drastic changes, he’s likely to ride out the season as the backup to Michael Penix Jr.

Assuming none of Richardson, Wilson, or Cousins end up back in starting roles with their current teams, it may require a contending club(s) suffering a significant injury at QB for any of them to garner trade interest. The Bengals make sense as a potential suitor on paper, having lost starter Joe Burrow to a toe injury in Week 2. Burrow could miss three months (if not more), and backup Jake Browning has struggled mightily since taking the reins. Despite that, the Bengals remain confident in Browning. They also rarely swing in-season trades, and the Mike Brown-led organization may be unwilling to add to its payroll.

Beyond Cincinnati, the Ravens, Vikings, and 49ers are also dealing with injuries to their starters. The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson could miss multiple games with a hamstring injury, but they signed an experienced backup in Cooper Rush last March.

The Vikings also have a battle-tested reserve of their own, Carson Wentz, who’s playing in place of J.J. McCarthy as he recovers from an ankle sprain. As for the 49ers, they appear to be in great shape with No. 2 signal-caller Mac Jones, who has excelled filling in for Brock Purdy. With Purdy down with a toe injury, Jones has led the 49ers to three wins in as many starts.

29 comments Atlanta Falcons Indianapolis Colts New York Giants

Falcons OC Zac Robinson Expected To Be A Top Choice For OSU’s Head Coaching Job

By | at September 28, 2025 9:26 am

In December, we learned Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson would have been Oklahoma State’s top choice to replace head coach Mike Gundy if Gundy had not accepted a contract restructure to remain with the program. Now, after back-to-back embarrassing defeats, Gundy is out as Oklahoma State’s HC, and Robinson is again on the radar. 

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Robinson is on the “very short list” of candidates for Gundy’s job, which Gundy held for over 20 seasons. Now 38, Robinson played collegiately under Gundy, serving as OSU’s starting quarterback from 2007-09. One of Robinson’s former college teammates, Dez Bryant, quickly took to social media after Gundy’s ouster to advocate for Robinson as the long-time coach’s replacement.

Rapoport makes clear that, as of the time of his report, there has been no contact between Robinson and OSU, which has hired a search firm to aid in its quest for its next permanent head coach. And even if the search takes an expected turn in Robinson’s direction, there could be complications.

For instance, although national signing day is not until February, most high school stars commit to colleges in December, at which point the Falcons’ season will still be ongoing. So while Robinson could hire a staff to do the bulk of the recruiting work, he would be pulling double duty for a time, and the recruits may not have as much contact with their prospective head coach as they would like.

The situation would be difficult, but not unprecedented. As Rapoport points out, then-Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis charted a similar course when he was hired as Notre Dame’s head coach during the 2004 season (of course, the collegiate landscape has changed dramatically over the last two decades).

For now, Robinson will attempt to get the Falcons’ offense and second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back on track. After a solid Week 1 effort against the Bucs, Penix has completed 31 of 57 passes (54.4% completion rate) for 307 yards and zero touchdowns against two interceptions in his last two games combined. The team was blanked in a 30-0 drubbing at the hands of the Panthers in Week 3.

It is unclear what an inability to right the ship will do to Robinson’s status with OSU, though it will obviously damage his NFL stock. Like many Sean McVay disciples, Robinson became a popular name in coaching circles not long after he joined McVay’s Rams staff as assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019. He attracted OC interest from the Chargers and Ravens in 2023 and was one of the most popular names in the 2024 cycle, drawing OC interview requests from the Bucs, Bears, Patriots, Raiders, Saints, and Steelers in addition to the Falcons.

In his first year in charge of the Atlanta offense, which was quarterbacked first by Kirk Cousins and then by Penix, Robinson’s unit finished sixth in yards per game and 13th in points per game.

14 comments Atlanta Falcons

Falcons To Stick With K John Parker Romo In Week 4

By | at September 26, 2025 1:30 pm

SEPTEMBER 26: Though the Falcons did sign Sauls this week, Romo will be the team’s kicker on Sunday, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic. A performance that resembles his Week 2 output more than last week’s would likely be enough to keep the job moving forward, but missing multiple kicks again could give Sauls a shot in Week 5.

SEPTEMBER 23: The Falcons have already made one major move at the kicker position this season by releasing Younghoe Koo. That decision came about with John Parker Romo being tapped as Koo’s replacement.

[RELATED: Falcons Fire WRs Coach Ike Hilliard]

In Week 2, Romo connected on all five of his field goal attempts and his lone extra point kick. He appeared to be set for a lengthy spell as Atlanta’s preferred kicking option as a result, but things took a different turn in Week 3. During Sunday’s blowout loss to the Panthers, Romo missed both of his field goal tries. The team now appears to be set for a new round of auditions at the position.

“We have to bring competition in,” head coach Raheem Morris said of the kicker spot (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic). “You have to do that until we get it right. That’s something we will work diligently at.”

After a Week 1 loss in which Koo struggled, Morris made it clear free agent options would be explored. That resulted in the Romo signing and, shortly thereafter, the decision to release Koo after a run of six-plus years with the franchise. Workouts were held with free agents Zane Gonzalez, Michael Badgley, and Ben Sauls last time around.

It would come as little surprise if one or more of those kickers were to receive another look. Atlanta also has Lenny Krieg – who lost a training camp competition to Koo – in place on the practice squad. Moving on from Romo after one poor outing would certainly raise a number of eyebrows, especially given his strong showing in Week 2. Nevertheless, Morris and Co. seem to be in position to continue seeking out replacement options over the coming days.

16 comments Atlanta Falcons

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/25

By | at September 23, 2025 10:20 pm

As teams enter Week 4, here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

The Falcons’ kicking rollercoaster took another turn in Week 3 with John Parker Romo missing both of his attempts in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. Granted, those kicks came from 49 and 55 yards, so Atlanta may have some patience after signing Romo to a two-year contract last week. The Falcons still brought in some potential competition in Sauls, an undrafted rookie who spent training camp with the Steelers and made five of his six field goals in the preseason.

Wright is expected to be out for four to six weeks due to a foot injury, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Watson signed with the Buccaneers after the draft but remained on the non-football injury list as he worked to get his weight to a more manageable level. He was waived during final roster cuts, but the team hosted him for a workout last week, per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman. Watson met the team’s athletic requirements to earn his way back on the practice squad, according to Auman, and will return just in time for the Bucs’ Week 4 matchup with the Eagles. The massive nose tackle does feel like a direct counter to the tush push, but Bowles previously said (via Auman) that Watson wouldn’t be re-signed just for one matchup and would instead need to be ready to contribute to the defense as a whole.

0 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Cleveland Browns Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Transactions
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors