Atlanta Falcons Announce Initial 53-Man Roster for 2025

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga – With the 2025 training camp and NFL preseason in the rearview mirror, attention for the Atlanta Falcons can officially turn to the construction of their initial 53-man roster. NFL franchises will have until Tuesday, August 26th at 4 p.m. ET to finalize their roster decisions.

16-man practice squads will be formed on Wednesday after players have cleared waivers.

In a change to previous years, the NFL teams are allowed to place two players on injured reserve designated for return that don't count against their initial 53-man roster. Before, a player who was scheduled to miss the first month or more of the season would have to be placed on the initial 53. The new rule allows teams to keep two extra players without exposing them to the waiver process.

Offensive tackles Kaleb McGary and Storm Norton as well as linebacker Troy Andersen are key candidates for a IR with a designation to return.

The tracker will be updated as the news comes in with the full roster and all of the cuts listed below.

Deadline Day:

4:00 p.m.: The Falcons announced their initial 53-man roster. Full details below the timeline.

2:30 p.m.: Jordan Schultz reports the Falcons have cut veteran C.J. Henderson. Schultz says the Falcons would like to bring him back to the practice squad on Wednesday.

12:00 p.m.: The Falcons actually added a player on deadline day instead of just making cuts. According to Tom Pelissero, Atlanta has acquired offensive lineman Michael Jerrell from the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick. Conditions could include snap counts and games active. Jerrell started three games at tackle for the Seahawks last year and will be expected to compete with Eli Wilkinson for the starting right tackle spot.

10:24 a.m.: In a bit of a surprise, Ian Rapoport reports that the Falcons have waived quarterback Easton Stick. Atlanta kept three quarterbacks on their initial 53 last year (though they traded Taylor Heinicke the next day), and Stick had seemingly done enough to earn a spot as a third quarterback. This should open up an extra spot in a crowded wide receiver room.

10:14 a.m.: ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports defensive lineman Simeon Barrow has been released. Barrow was signed as an undrafted free agent and wasn't expected to make the roster. He played well in the preseason, and the former Miami Hurricane will be a priority signing for the practice squad.

9:30 a.m.: Mike Garafolo reports Atlanta waived German kicker Lenny Krieg. Once he lost the kicking job to Younghoe Koo during training camp, this was always the plan. If and when he passes through waivers, Atlanta (and any other team) can use an international player pathway slot on him, in essence giving them a 17th practice squad player.

9:30 a.m.: ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports the Falcons have cut running backs Carlos Washington and Jashaun Corbin. This would indicate that former Michigan State standout Nathan Carter has made the 53-man roster. Carter earned the spot in training camp, especially after an explosive performance against the Tennessee Titans in Preseason Week 2.

9:12 a.m.: Adam Schefter reports Ronnie Harrison is among today's cuts. The long-time safety was brought in to compete at linebacker for the Falcons. Harrison played 17 games for Indianapolis the last two years, but he hasn't been a regular since he started 11 games for the Browns in 2021.

8:54 a.m.: Jordan Schultz reports the Falcons are cutting undrafted free agent Cobee Bryant with the hopes of bringing him back to the practice squad. The Falcons had high hopes for Bryant going into camp, but he struggled with injuries and wasn't able to perform consistently enough to make the initial 53.

Saturday 6:00 p.m.: The Falcons released a list of 12 players they had cut, including a surprise in defensive lineman Morgan Fox. Fox was at the back of the rotation in the preseason, but he got $3 million guaranteed from the Falcons without ever playing a snap. If he's not claimed on waivers by another team, the Falcons will assume $3 million in dead money against their cap.

Atlanta Falcons Roster (52)

Offense (24)

Quarterback (2)
Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr.

Running Back (3)
Tyler Allgeier, Nathan Carter, Bijan Robinson

Wide Receiver (7)
Jamal Agnew, KhaDarel Hodge, Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Darnell Mooney, David Sills V, Casey Washington

Tight End (4)
Feleipe Franks, Kyle Pitts Sr., Teagan Quitoriano, Charlie Woerner

Offensive Line (8)*
Matthew Bergeron, Jovaughn Gwyn, Chris Lindstrom, Kyle Hinton, Jake Matthews, Jack Nelson, Ryan Neuzil, Elijah Wilkinson

*Falcons traded for Michael Jerrell, but must not have made it official yet. His addition will make it 53.

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (5)
Brandon Dorlus, Zach Harrison, LaCale London, David Onyemata, Ruke Orhorhoro

Edge (6)
Arnold Ebiketie, Leonard Floyd, DeAngelo Malone, James Pearce Jr., Bralen Trice, Jalon Walker

Linebacker (4)
JD Bertrand, Divine Deablo, Kaden Elliss, Josh Woods

Safety (3)
Jessie Bates III, DeMarcco Hellams, Xavier Watts

Cornerback (7)
Dee Alford, Billy Bowman Jr., Natrone Brooks, Mike Ford Jr., Mike Hughes, Clark Phillips III, A.J. Terrell Jr.

Special Teams (3)

K Younghoe Koo
P Bradley Pinion
LS Liam McCullough

IR Designated for Return:
DL Ta'Quon Graham
OL Storm Norton

Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform
LB Troy Andersen

Season Ending IR:
OL Kaleb McGary

Cuts

QB Easton Stick
QB Ben DiNucci
RB Elijah Dotson
RB Jashaun Corbin
RB: Carlos Washington Jr.
WR Jesse Matthews
WR Quincy Skinner Jr.
WR Chris Blair
WR Nick Nash
WR Dylan Drummond
TE Nikola Kalinic
TE Joshua Simon
OL Matthew Cindric
OL Joshua Gray
OL Jordan Williams
OL Brandon Parker
DL Morgan Fox
DL Simeon Barrow
DL Kentavius Street
ED Ronnie Perkins
ED Khalid Kareem
ILB Caleb Johnson
ILB Nick Kubitz
ILB Ronnie Harrison
ILB Malik Verdon (NFI)
S Josh Thompson
S Jordan Fuller
S Henry Black
CB Keith Taylor
CB Donate Manning
CB Lamar Jackson
CB Cobee Bryant
CB C.J. Henderson
K Lenny Krieg