Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo was off to an exciting start this season, but his potential breakout was interrupted by a broken forearm suffered in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers.
Head coach Raheem Morris said (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) that Deablo would “miss some time,” but added that the fifth-year linebacker is expected to return this season. 2024 fifth-rounder JD Bertrand replaced Deablo after he went down on Sunday night and will likely fill Deablo’s role moving forward.
Originally a Raiders third-round pick in 2021, Deablo did not emerge as an impact starter on his rookie contract. He signed a two-year, $14MM deal with the Falcons this offseason that quickly looked like a great deal through his first five games. The 27-year-old started alongside veteran inside linebacker Kaden Elliss as a crucial part of an impressive defense that ranks second in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed this year. Deablo’s team-high 86.0 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks seventh among all inside linebackers this season, and he has been particularly impressive in coverage, allowing only a 79.6 passer rating when targeted with four pass break-ups.
Deablo will now be sidelined for multiple weeks and could even be placed on injured reserve depending on the severity of his injury. However, suffering a broken forearm – as opposed to a significant lower-body injury – will give him a good chance at coming back strong later this season.