The Atlanta Falcons placed safety DeMarcco Hellams on injured reserve on Saturday, which might bring a premature end to the former Alabama defensive back’s 2025 season.
NFL rules require a player on injured reserve to miss at least four games, and the Falcons have five games remaining on their schedule.
Hellams did not practice this week in preparation for Atlanta’s game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. After a season-high 28 special-teams plays in the Falcons’ 27-24 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, Hellams was dealing with a hamstring injury.
In 2024, Hellams spent the entire season on injured reserve. He fractured his left ankle on Atlanta’s second defensive snap of the preseason.
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This season, Hellams has played in 11 games. He also missed the opening game with a hamstring injury.
Hellams has 237 special-teams plays and 13 defensive snaps in 2025.
Hellams led Alabama in tackles in the 2022 season, but he didn’t get picked in the 2023 NFL Draft until the 224th selection.
After Hellams made the Falcons’ regular-season roster as a rookie, he played in 15 games with four starts and was on the field for 369 defensive snaps and 221 special-teams plays.