Billy Bowman Jr.

Falcons DB Billy Bowman Jr. Suffers Achilles Tear

November 24th, 2025 at 11:53am CST by Adam La Rose

During Friday’s walk-through leading up to the Falcons’ Week 12 game, Billy Bowman Jr. suffered an Achilles injury. Doubts have since been expressed about the chances of a return late in the year, and that will indeed not take place.

Bowman’s injury is an Achilles tear, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. That news comes as little surprise after head coach Raheem Morris noted the situation was “not good” in the wake of the fourth-round rookie going down. Bowman was moved to injured reserve on Saturday, and he will obviously not be activated before the end of the campaign.

Instead, Bowman’s attention will turn to surgery and the lengthy recovery process which will follow it. Being without him the rest of the way means Atlanta’s secondary will not have a key figure to close out the season. Bowman logged a defensive snap share of 80% while operating as the team’s top slot corner during his six games played (after being drafted as a safety). That made him one of four rookie playing a critical role on defense for the Falcons.

A hamstring injury cost Bowman time earlier in the season, but this ailment is of course a far more notable one. The Oklahoma product’s recovery timeline will be something to monitor through the offseason as he hopes to heal in time for the start of the 2026 campaign. Expectations will be high in Bowman’s case whenever he is fully recovered.

Atlanta ranks eighth in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, and Bowman has played a key role in the team’s success on that front. The 22-year-old posted 26 tackles, one interception, two pass deflections, one forced fumble and 1.5 sacks during what has turned out to be a short-lived rookie season. A large workload should nevertheless await him next year.

The Falcons won on Sunday, moving them to 4-7 on the year. The playoffs are likely out of reach, and Atlanta’s offense faces questions with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on the mend from a partially torn ACL. It remains to be seen if Penix will be back to 100% in time for the start of the 2026 season, and the same is now true of Bowman as well.

Falcons Place Billy Bowman Jr., Zach Harrison On IR

November 22nd, 2025 at 7:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Falcons will be notably shorthanded on defense for the foreseeable future. Billy Bowman Jr.‘s Achilles injury will leave him sidelined over at least the next four games.

Bowman went down during a walk-through yesterday morning. It was already known the fourth-round rookie would miss Week 12, but head coach Raheem Morris‘ comments suggested a long-term absence would be in store. The Falcons placed Bowman on injured reserve today, a which move certainly points in that direction.

A hamstring injury led to earlier missed time in Bowman’s case but when on the field he has logged a defensive snap share of 80%. The Oklahoma product has joined fellow rookie Xavier Watts as a regular presence in the secondary and thus played a central role in the Falcons’ youth movement on defense. In six games, Bowman has recorded one interception, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble while serving as Atlanta’s top slot corner. His rookie campaign is in danger of being over, however, based on the severity of this latest ailment.

Joining Bowman on IR is Zach Harrison. The third-year defensive lineman is dealing with a knee injury and will be unavailable for an extended period as a result. Harrison missed only one game across his first two seasons with Atlanta, but a notable stretch on the sidelines will now be in store. The 24-year-old has become a starter in 2025 with the Falcons beginning the post-Grady Jarrett period along the defensive interior.

Harrison has taken advantage of the increased workload, posting 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in just seven games. The former third-rounder will look to continue that production if he manages to return for the end of the campaign, one which is again on course to see the Falcons outside the playoff picture. Harrison’s rookie contract runs through 2026.

Atlanta did not immediately make any corresponding moves to fill Bowman and Harrison’s spots on the active roster. The team did, however, add safety Jammie Robinson and receiver Dylan Drummond from the practice squad as gameday elevations. Those two are in line to play tomorrow against the Saints.

NFC Injury Updates: Giants, Rams, Packers, Falcons, Seahawks

November 22nd, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Connor Byrne

Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo will sit out Sunday’s matchup with the Lions because of a sprained MCL. It’ll be the fourth straight absence for Adebo, though the Giants haven’t placed him on IR. He was on track to play in the Giants’ loss to the Packers last week before suffering a setback in warmups, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic. It’s unclear whether Adebo will be ready to return against the Patriots in Week 13. If not, he’ll have an extra week to recover with the Giants on a bye after that. Adebo missed 10 games with a broken leg in 2024, his final season with the Saints, but still scored a three-year, $54MM contract in free agency. In his first seven games with the Giants (all starts), Adebo has recorded 48 tackles and four passes defensed.

More injury updates from around the NFC…

The Rams are “getting close” to exploring opening cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon‘s 21-day practice window, according to head coach Sean McVay (via Sarah Barshop of ESPN). Witherspoon broke his clavicle in a Week 2 win over the Titans, forcing him to go on IR. Expectations then were that Witherspoon would need 12 weeks to recover. If his timeline hasn’t changed, he could return in the first half of December. Meanwhile, McVay is optimistic that wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) will be back in the lineup in Week 13. Atwell, who has been on IR since Oct. 27, will miss his fourth straight game on Sunday.
Packers defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness has missed five games in a row with a foot injury. He’s officially questionable for a matchup with the rival Vikings on Sunday, but the Packers are hopeful he’ll play (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). The former first-round pick opened the season with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in his first five games.
Falcons defensive back Billy Bowman will miss Week 12 after sustaining an Achilles injury during a walk-through on Friday morning, head coach Raheem Morris revealed (via Tori McElhaney of the team’s website). Morris said it’s “not good,” which suggests Bowman is in line for a lengthy absence. It’s the second noteworthy injury of the year for Bowman, a fourth-round rookie from Oklahoma who missed three games earlier in the season with a hamstring problem. In his first six games (one start), Bowman has flashed some playmaking ability with 26 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble.
The Seahawks have considered an IR stint for rookie receiver Tory Horton, head coach Mike Macdonald said (via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). Macdonald revealed that information before the Seahawks’ loss to the Rams in Week 11. Horton missed that game with a shin injury, his second straight absence, and the Seahawks have ruled him out for Sunday’s game against the Titans. The fifth-round pick scored two touchdowns in his most recent appearance, a win over the Commanders in Week 9. While Horton has just 13 catches for 161 yards in eight games, he has already found the end zone six times, including once on a punt return.
The Giants placed offensive lineman Evan Neal on IR with a hamstring issue last week. It turns out Neal suffered the injury during a workout, interim head coach Mike Kafka announced (via Duggan). The 2022 seventh overall pick and former tackle didn’t play a snap this year after a demotion to backup guard duties. It seems unlikely Neal will return in 2025. The 25-year-old is scheduled to reach free agency in the offseason at an inopportune time.

Falcons Place Bralen Trice On IR; Xavier Watts, Billy Bowman In Line For Starting Roles

August 28th, 2025 at 12:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Bralen Trice missed his entire rookie season due to an ACL tear, and he will not be available at the start of the coming campaign. The 2024 third-rounder was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement.

Head coach Raheem Morris said Trice aggravated the same knee affected by last year’s ACL tear. It is not known if surgery will be required at this point, but a procedure could be deemed necessary. Landing on IR at this time ensures Trice will miss at least the first four games of the campaign.

Morris also said the best-case scenario for Trice would be a return after Atlanta’s bye week. That happens to fall on Week 5, the earliest point at which the 24-year-old could have his practice window opened anyway. Activating Trice at any point will use up one of the Falcons’ eight IR activations on the season. The team already spent two when designating Ta’Quon Graham and Storm Norton for return during roster cutdowns.

Today’s move marks another injury setback for Trice, who was drafted as a candidate to handle a notable workload off the edge early in his career. Pass rush production has been hard to come by for Atlanta in recent years, something the team aimed at addressing through free agency (by signing Leonard Floyd) and the draft (by selecting Jalon Walker and James Pearce in the first round) this offseason. The team’s new options will be relied on without Trice in place at least early in the season.

In other news regarding the Falcons’ defense, Morris also announced rookies Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman will have starting roles. Watts, added in the third round, will operate as a first-team safety alongside Jessie Bates, while Bowman – taken one round later – will handle slot corner duties. Earlier this week, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted how Bowman (who was drafted as a safety) impressed upon transitioning to a slot corner during camp, surpassing incumbent Dee Alford on the depth chart.

Morris’ announcement thus comes as no surprise, and it confirms Watts, Bowman and Bates will be joined by AJ Terrell and Mike Hughes in the starting secondary. That unit will work in tandem with a heavily renovated edge rush group, one which will be shorthanded in the fall.

Falcons Sign First-Round OLB Jalon Walker

May 9th, 2025 at 7:30pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons have one of the NFL’s smaller classes to sign after taking only five rookies in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they’ll open up their signings with their top draft selection, outside linebacker Jalon Walker. The versatile defender’s first NFL contract will be a four-year, $20.56MM deal.

For much of the pre-draft process Walker was considered a top prospect at both off-ball linebacker and pass rusher. The 21-year-old spent time all over the defense throughout his time at Georgia. His first two seasons in Athens saw him spend more time on the edge than in the box. His final year with the Bulldogs, though, saw him shift to more of an off-ball role, though he still spent about 40 percent of his time on the edge.

When Atlanta announced his selection two weeks ago, they intentionally labeled him as a “defensive end,” giving some insight into how he could be used at the next level. He and fellow first-round, former-SEC pass rusher James Pearce should push Leonard Floyd and Arnold Ebiketie for some starting snaps on the edge. Even if they can’t unseat the veterans, their presence still provides a significant improvement in the depth of the position for the Falcons.

While lacking ideal size, Walker has good length and speed to rush on the outside, and his eye for the ball and change of direction ability make him much more useful than just a pure pass rusher in the backfield. He works well through the mesh of blocks along the line, but when in a one-on-one matchup, he can often get erased. Still, his tenacity and room for growth make for a strong potential future in Atlanta.

The team announced later in the day that third-round Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, fourth-round Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr., and seventh-round Wisconsin tackle Jack Nelson all signed their rookie deals today, as well. After deciding not to bring Justin Simmons back, following a disappointing 2024 campaign for the veteran, Atlanta brought in two of the draft’s top-five safeties. Watts isn’t nearly as big as former teammate Kyle Hamilton, but he tries to play with a similar aggression that can cost him at times. Still, Watts was considered a fringe-Day 1 talent who projects to push free agent addition Jordan Fuller for a starting job soon.

Bowman seems to be a perfect complement to Watts. With his smaller size and quickness, Bowman excels where Watts can struggle: in the slot. He, too, can play a bit overaggressive, but when he gets the ball, he can be a danger to score. He’ll need to improve his tackling at the NFL level, but Bowman’s recognition and coverage ability could earn him a role as a nickelback early. Nelson is a typical, homegrown Wisconsin lineman. At 6-foot-7 and 318 pounds, Nelson looks like the usual product that the Badgers produce. He doesn’t excel in any one area, but he has a lot of good traits that good coaching and development could turn into a real steal of a pick.

With this being the team’s first draft pick signing of the class, here’s a look at the work they still have to do:

Round 1, No. 15: Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia) (signed)
Round 1, No. 26 (from Rams): James Pearce (DE, Tennessee)
Round 3, No. 96 (from Eagles): Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 4, No. 118: Billy Bowman Jr. (S, Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 7, No. 218 (from Browns through Chargers): Jack Nelson (T, Wisconsin) (signed)