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Drake London

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/28/25

November 28th, 2025 at 9:06pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Friday’s minor NFL transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Washington Commanders

With leading receiver Drake London set to miss his second straight game with a knee injury, Drummond joins the 53-man roster off the taxi squad. He was unable to be a standard gameday practice squad elevation, since he’d already been elevated three times this year.

Chosen is headed to the waiver wire after three games with Washington. He caught five balls for 53 yards on eight targets as an elevation off the practice squad, but after getting signed to the 53-man roster two and a half weeks ago, he only saw one target in the team’s overtime loss to Miami.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Suffers Partial ACL Tear, Likely Done For Season

November 17th, 2025 at 10:01pm CST by Connor Byrne

10:01pm: The Falcons will place Penix on IR, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report. Along with damage to his ACL, Penix aggravated a bone bruise and a knee sprain.

11:13am: Penix has a partial ACL tear and is expected to miss the rest of the season, according to Palmer.

9:55am: Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a potential season-ending knee injury in a 30-27 loss to the Panthers on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Penix will go for a second opinion, but his chances of a 2025 return don’t look good. The Falcons believe Penix is done for the season, per James Palmer of The Athletic.

It seemed likely that Penix would miss at least some time when he exited early on Sunday. However, a possible season-ending injury comes as a surprise. Penix previously sat out a game this year with a bone bruise in his left knee, which he re-injured against Carolina. Kirk Cousins, who replaced Penix, will take over for the foreseeable future.

The Falcons used the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft on Penix, a stunning move after they signed Cousins to a four-year, $180MM deal with $100MM in guarantees in free agency.

Penix entered the NFL with a couple of major knee injuries in his past. Then with Indiana, Penix suffered season-ending right ACL tears in both 2018 and ’20. The southpaw finished his college career with a pair of healthy and productive seasons as a Washington Huskie, leading the Falcons to take a chance on him in the first round.

Penix began his pro career as Cousins’ backup, but the Falcons switched to the heir apparent late last season. After starting 7-7 under Cousins, the team replaced him with Penix. While Atlanta lost two of its final three games en route to an 8-9 finish, Penix showed head coach Raheem Morris enough to grab the reins as the team’s unquestioned starter entering this season. The demoted Cousins wanted out in the offseason, whether via trade or release. The Falcons wound up retaining him.

With Penix at the helm for all but one game this season, the Falcons have stumbled to a disappointing 3-7 record. Penix has underwhelmed at the head of an offense that ranks 18th in passing and 27th in scoring. He has completed 60.1% of passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 25-year-old ranks 17th in the league in QBR and 23rd in passer rating.

It remains to be seen whether Penix’s injury will be severe enough to affect his availability for any of 2026. In the meantime, the Falcons will turn back to Cousins. The Falcons gambled on a Cousins mega-deal despite the fact that he suffered a torn Achilles midway through his final season with the Vikings in 2023.

Cousins, who had been prolific passer throughout his career with Washington and Minnesota, hasn’t recaptured his old form since moving to Atlanta. In his lone start this year, a 34-10 loss to Miami in Week 8, Cousins went 21 for 31 for 173 yards. He finished a lackluster 6 for 14 for 48 yards in relief of Penix in Week 11.

Having lost five in a row to fall to 13th place in the NFC, the Cousins-led Falcons will need a miraculous run to earn a playoff berth. To worsen matters, Cousins will go at least one week without the Falcons’ No. 1 receiver, Drake London, who sprained his PCL against Carolina. London won’t play in New Orleans this Sunday, and it’s possible he’ll miss more time after that, per Rapoport.

Falcons Fear QB Michael Penix Jr. Could Miss Time Due To Knee Injury

November 16th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Rory Parks

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. missed his team’s Week 8 matchup, a blowout loss to the Dolphins, due to a bone bruise in his knee. That same issue could now force him to miss more time.

According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Penix is believed to have aggravated the prior injury during Sunday’s loss to the Panthers, which forced him out of the game early. Atlanta fears its QB1 could be sidelined for a stretch.

The Falcons’ selection of Penix in last year’s draft was perhaps the biggest surprise of the event, as the club had just signed Kirk Cousins to a lucrative free agent contract. Cousins’ demotion in favor of Penix during the 2024 campaign triggered plenty of trade/release speculation this offseason, though the trade deadline has passed and Cousins remains on the roster.

The 37-year-old was not particularly impressive in relief of Penix in the above-referenced Miami contest, and while Penix has flashed at times, his overall body of work puts him in the bottom half of the league in terms of both traditional quarterback rating (86.8) and QBR (53.6). The Falcons have now lost four in a row, and Penix started the last three games in that span (although those losses came by a combined 10 points, and the last two defeats were decided in overtime).

Now sitting at 3-7 and in third place in the NFC South, the Falcons will surely be cautious with Penix. Cousins will again step into the starting lineup for however long Penix is out, and if he performs well, he could perhaps convince a team in need of a bridge passer this offseason to swing a trade for him.

Coming into Sunday’s Week 11 game, Penix had completed just 58.8% of his passes, which was the third-worst mark in the league among qualified players. While the Falcons were just inside the top half of the league in terms of total offense, they were a bottom-six outfit in terms of points per game.

Per Tori McElhaney of the team’s official website, top wideout Drake London also exited Sunday’s loss early due to a knee injury of his own. London’s hip ailment forced him to miss the game that Cousins started earlier this year, so it will be bad luck for both London and the veteran passer if the knee injury leads to missed time.

Fortunately, he may be able to avoid that. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, London’s malady is not believed to be overly serious, though an MRI on Monday will reveal more.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. To Return In Week 9

October 31st, 2025 at 2:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Falcons were without their starting quarterback and top receiver in Week 8. Both are on track to return in time for Sunday’s game, though.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is off Atlanta’s injury report. The second-year passer was absent last week due to a bone bruise in his knee. After nearly being in position to play through the injury this past Sunday, it comes as little surprise he will manage to return in time for the Falcons’ upcoming game against the Patriots.

The same is also true of receiver Drake London, who was absent in Week 8 as a result of a hip injury which emerged late in preparation for the game. The 24-year-old was a limited participant in practice over the past two days before logging a full session on Friday. As a result, London is now set to return at the same time Atlanta’s QB1 will resume his first full campaign atop the depth chart.

The Falcons have run hot and cold in 2025. The team suffered a 24-point loss against the Dolphins in Week 8 with Kirk Cousins making his first start of the season alongside a shorthanded skill position group. Having Penix and London back in the fold will be key against a Patriots team riding a five-game winning streak.

Atlanta’s offense has flashed potential when at full strength this season, although the 3-4 team would certainly benefit from better consistency in all facets. A strong run of availability would be a critical factor in that regard, especially as Penix’s evaluation period in a full-time starting role continues. That process will see him take the field with a healthier group around him on Sunday.

Falcons CB A.J. Terrell Ruled Out

September 20th, 2025 at 9:22am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Falcons have ruled out star cornerback A.J. Terrell for Sunday’s matchup with the Panthers, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Terrell left the game in Week 2 with a hamstring injury and did not practice this week. Head coach Raheem Morris described him as week-to-week on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Fifth-year cornerback Dee Alford is expected to replace Terrell in the starting lineup after finishing the game in his stead last week. He has primarily lined up in the slot in his career with 16 starts across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but will have to play on the boundary during the Falcons’ visit to the Panthers on Sunday.

Terrell, a 2020 first-round pick, broke out as a second-team All-Pro in his second year with 4.8 yards and a 61.0 passer rating when targeted. He’s been solid in coverage since, but has not returned to the heights of his 2021 campaign. Still, he’s a major loss to a Falcons defense that has been middling against the pass so far this year.

Wide receivers Jamal Agnew (groin) and Casey Washington (concussion) were both ruled out for Sunday’s game as well. Rookie edge rusher James Pearce (groin) is questionable, but should have a good chance at taking the field after practicing all week, albeit as a limited participant. Starting wideouts Drake London and Darnell Mooney have no injury designations and will be full-go against the Panthers.

2026 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

May 1st, 2025 at 11:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2022 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

  • Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
  • One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
  • Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th-highest salaries at their position:
    • At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
    • A 75% snap average across all three seasons
    • At least 50% in each of first three seasons
  • Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position

We covered how last year’s Pro Bowl invites affected the 2022 first-round class. With the deadline looming, we will use the space below to track all the 2026 option decisions from around the league:

  1. DE/OLB Travon Walker, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
  2. DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson, Lions ($19.87MM): Exercised
  3. CB Derek Stingley Jr., Texans ($17.6MM): Extended through 2029
  4. CB Sauce Gardner, Jets ($20.19MM): Exercised
  5. OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants ($14.75MM): Exercised
  6. T Ikem Ekwonu, Panthers ($17.56MM): Exercised
  7. T Evan Neal, Giants ($16.69MM): Declined
  8. WR Drake London, Falcons ($16.82MM): Exercised
  9. T Charles Cross, Seahawks ($17.56MM): Exercised
  10. WR Garrett Wilson, Jets ($16.82MM): Exercised
  11. WR Chris Olave, Saints ($15.49MM): Exercised
  12. WR Jameson Williams, Lions ($15.49MM): Exercised
  13. DT Jordan Davis, Eagles ($12.94MM): Exercised
  14. S Kyle Hamilton, Ravens ($18.6MM): Exercised
  15. G Kenyon Green, Eagles* ($16.69MM): Declined
  16. WR Jahan Dotson, Eagles** ($16.82MM): Declined
  17. G Zion Johnson, Chargers ($17.56MM): Declined
  18. WR Treylon Burks, Titans ($15.49MM): Declined
  19. T Trevor Penning, Saints ($16.69MM): Declined
  20. QB Kenny Pickett, Browns*** ($22.12MM): Declined
  21. CB Trent McDuffie, Chiefs ($13.63MM): Exercised
  22. LB Quay Walker, Packers ($14.75MM): Declined
  23. CB Kaiir Elam, Cowboys**** ($12.68MM): Declined
  24. G Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($20.99MM): Exercised
  25. C Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens ($20.99MM): Declined
  26. DE Jermaine Johnson, Jets ($13.92MM): Exercised
  27. LB Devin Lloyd, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
  28. DT Devonte Wyatt, Packers ($12.94MM): Exercised
  29. G Cole Strange, Patriots ($16.69MM): Declined
  30. DE George Karlaftis, Chiefs ($15.12MM): Exercised
  31. DB Dax Hill, Bengals ($12.68MM): Exercised
  32. S Lewis Cine, Vikings: N/A

* = traded from Texans on March 11, 2025
** = traded from Commanders on August 22, 2024
*** = traded from Eagles on March 15, 2024; traded from Steelers on March 10, 2025
**** = traded from Bills to Cowboys on March 12, 2025

Falcons To Pick Up Drake London’s Fifth-Year Option

April 30th, 2025 at 9:47am CST by Sam Robinson

A year after exercising Kyle Pitts‘ fifth-year option, the Falcons will keep their other pass-catching pillar from entering a contract year. The team is picking up Drake London‘s 2026 option, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This will lock London into a $16.82MM guarantee for next year. London is eligible for the third-tier wide receiver option, having been a regular in Atlanta but not a Pro Bowler. The former No. 8 overall pick, however, is now an essential piece to the organization’s aim to developing Michael Penix Jr. into a franchise quarterback.

[RELATED: Falcons Were Prepared To Draft James Pearce Jr. At No. 15]

Teams have until 3pm CT Thursday to decide on options for 2022 first-round picks. Considering the team’s Pitts decision, London never seemed a candidate to see his option declined. Kirk Cousins, with a late-season assist from Penix, helped London post his first 1,000-yard season. He cruised past that benchmark, accumulating 1,271 yards in his third season. This marked a boost from London’s first two years, when he was tethered to Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder as his primary QBs.

Part of Terry Fontenot‘s annual commitment to restock the Falcons’ skill positions with top-10 picks, London was the second of those selections. After taking Pitts fourth overall, Fontenot chose London eighth out of USC in 2022. The 6-foot-4 target quickly replaced Calvin Ridley as the Falcons’ No. 1 receiver, arriving as the team’s previous top target had incurred a gambling suspension months before the 2022 draft. London, however, was tied to two run-oriented offenses.

That led to the Falcons’ scrutinized two-QB offseason project last year. While Cousins no longer factors into the Falcons’ plans — barring a season in which the high-priced passer actually sits behind Penix — London will be tasked with helping the 2024 No. 8 overall pick take steps forward in his first full starter season. This is not exactly new territory, as London paired with Ridder after the Falcons anointed the 2022 third-round pick as their 2023 starter — after four 2022 starts. Penix showed more promise by comparison in his late-season cameo, pointing London’s arrow up regarding extension value.

London totaled 866 receiving yards as a rookie in a Falcons offense that led the league in rushing attempts; he added 905 in 2023. After scoring six combined touchdowns during his first two seasons, London broke through for nine last year. That season upped London’s extension price, as an exploding receiver market will help his cause there. The league now has eight $30MM-per-year receivers, and with the cap rising by at least $20MM over the past two years, London — who will not turn 24 until July — can make a clear case he deserves to be in that group. Building on last season to accelerate Penix’s development would cement that case.

The Falcons paid Julio Jones before his fifth-year option season, authorizing the since-retired receiver’s first extension just before the 2015 season. While the team bought time by picking up London’s option, his price would stand to rise with another 1,000-yard season. The Falcons can enter extension talks with London this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if anything serious develops. While extending first-round receivers a year early simply did not occur in the option era prior to last year, the Eagles (DeVonta Smith) and Dolphins (Jaylen Waddle) did so. The Falcons would probably be wise to strongly consider making an early strike. No known talks have occurred just yet.

Injury Rumors: London, Stevenson

August 14th, 2022 at 7:01pm CST by Ely Allen

Here’s the word on some of the injuries from Week 1 of the preseason:

  • The Falcons saw their top draft pick of 2022 leave their first preseason game in the first quarter on Friday. Wide receiver Drake London asked to be subbed out after reeling in a 24-yard pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota. This was the last thing Atlanta fans wanted to see considering London was drafted so highly despite an injury that ended his final season at USC prematurely. Luckily, it doesn’t appear that his college injury was the cause of his exit, according to AP News. London left the game with a knee injury, a different ailment from the broken ankle that sidelined him in college. The Falcons will play it careful with London and allow him time to get back to 100% before the regular season begins. “It’s nothing that we’re really concerned about long term,” head coach Arthur Smith told the media. “We’ll be smart…We hope to get everyone back by the time the regular season rolls around.” It looks like London will sit out this week, at least, and the team will reevaluate on the other side of their Week 2 preseason matchup with the Jets next Monday.
  • The Bills were without wide receiver Marquez Stevenson this week in a preseason game that likely would’ve seen him get plenty of playing time. Head coach Sean McDermott told the media that Stevenson “had surgery to repair a foot injury last week,” likely sidelining him for the remainder of the preseason, according to a tweet from Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. McDermott seemed to convey that the team was uncertain whether or not he would be ready to begin the regular season. It’ll be interesting to see what effect, if any, this has on the Bills’ final 53-man roster for guys like Tavon Austin, Tanner Gentry, and Jake Kumerow.

Falcons Sign First-Round WR Drake London

May 12th, 2022 at 7:38pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons first-round pick has officially signed his contract. The team announced that they’ve signed receiver Drake London to his rookie pact. The first four years of London’s contract are fully guaranteed.

London was the first receiver off the board after the Falcons used the No. 8 pick on the USC product. This feat came despite London appearing in only eight games this past season, as a fractured ankle ended his season prematurely. London still put up impressive numbers, reeling in 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns. Before he missed any time, he led the NCAA in receiving yards, contested catches (19), and missed tackles (22) and was the highest-graded receiver according to Pro Football Focus.

At the time of his injury, London was widely considered a top wide receiver in college football, and the injury clearly did nothing to impact his draft stock. Fortunately, the wideout didn’t suffer any ligament damage, so his recovery and future outlook are both promising.

The Falcons offense will look a whole lot different next season with Matt Ryan no longer in Atlanta. Veteran Marcus Mariota will replace him under center, and London should instantly be one of his preferred targets, especially with Calvin Ridley suspended. The Falcons used their 2021 first-round pick on tight end Kyle Pitts, and the offensive weapons should highlight Atlanta’s offense for years to come.

The Falcons have now inked half of their draft picks to contracts after signing running back Tyler Allgeier (fifth round), offensive guard Justin Shaffer (sixth round), and tight end John FitzPatrick (sixth round).

Falcons Select WR Drake London With No. 8 Pick

April 28th, 2022 at 8:01pm CST by Ben Levine

The first wideout is off the board. The Falcons have selected USC wideout Drake London with the No. 8 pick.

The young wide receiver is undoubtedly talented. Despite only playing 8 games this year, London led his team in every receiving statistic, reeling in 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns. The next closest receiver on the team had 54 catches for 602 yards through 12 games.

London’s season came to an early end when he suffered a fractured ankle in late October. He underwent surgery but, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller, there was no ligament damage in the ankle. At the time of his injury, London was widely considered a top wide receiver in college football. Before he missed any time, he led the NCAA in receiving yards, contested catches (19), and missed tackles (22) and was the highest-graded receiver according to Pro Football Focus. So, while the numbers might not be there, there’s a reason why London was the first wideout off the board.

The Falcons offense will look a whole lot different next season with Matt Ryan no longer in Atlanta. Veteran Marcus Mariota will replace him under center, and London should instantly be one of his preferred targets, especially with Calvin Ridley suspended. The Falcons used their 2021 first-round pick on tight end Kyle Pitts, and the offensive weapons should highlight Atlanta’s offense for years to come (despite uncertainty at the QB position).

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