The Atlanta Falcons placed cornerback Mike Hughes on the injured reserve list due to an ankle injury and signed edge rusher Khalid Kareem off of the practice squad in a corresponding move. Hughes was having a solid season before injuring his ankle in the team’s Week 15 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Falcons will look to undrafted free agent Cobee Bryant and others to help fill in for Hughes in Sunday’s season finale against the New Orleans Saints. Bryant has started the last two games in relief of Hughes.
Kareem was elevated for Atlanta’s Monday night win over the Los Angeles Rams and came up with a key stop on fourth down in the red zone. The veteran edge rusher should get more playing time in Week 18 with Brandon Dorlus ruled out.
Atlanta also signed punter Trenton Gill to the practice squad, filling the spot left by Kareem. Check out the Falcons’ updated 53-man roster and practice squad entering Week 18 below.
Quarterback (2)Kirk Cousins (18)Easton Stick (12)Running back (3)Bijan Robinson (7)Tyler Allgeier (25)Nathan Carter (38)Wide Receiver (7)Darnell Mooney (1)Drake London (5)Dylan Drummond (81)Casey Washington (82)Deven Thompkins (83)Malik Heath (86)David Sills V (87)Tight End (4)Kyle Pitts (8)Feleipe Franks (84)Teagan Quitoriano (85)Charlie Woerner (89)Offensive Line (9)Jovaughn Gwyn (52)Chris Lindstrom (63)Ryan Neuzil (64)Matthew Bergeron (65)Kyle Hinton (68)Jack Nelson (69)Jake Matthews (70)Elijah Wilkinson (71)Michael Jerrell (72)Defensive line (6)Brandon Dorlus (54)David Onyemata (90)Kentavius Street (93)LaCale London (94)Ruke Orhorhoro (98)Elijah Garcia (91)EDGE (5)Jalon Walker (11)Arnold Ebiketie (17)James Pearce Jr. (27)Leonard Floyd (56)Khalid Kareem (92)ILB (5)Divine Deablo (0)Ronnie Harrison (36)JD Bertrand (40)Josh Woods (42)Kaden Elliss (55)Cornerback (6)Dee Alford (20)A.J. Terrell (24)Mike Ford (28)C.J. Henderson (30)Natrone Brooks (35)Cobee Bryant (37)Safety (3)Jessie Bates III (3)Xavier Watts (31)Jammie Robinson (34)Specialists (3)Zane Gonzalez (45)Bradley Pinion (13)Liam McCullough (49)Falcons 16-man practice squadP Trenton Gill (32)DL Patrick Jenkins (TBD)LB Eugene Asante (53)S Tysheem Johnson (41)WR K.J. Osborn (88)QB Kyle Trask (16)OL Andrew Stueber (74)DL Ben Stille (90)CB A.J. Woods (42)RB Carlos Washington (26)WR Chris Blair (19)WR Nick Nash (80)TE Joshua Simon (47)OL Carter Warren (66)OL Joshua Gray (67)K Lenny Krieg (46) IPPReserve/Injured listCB Mike HughesCB Clark Phillips III (designated to return)DL Sam Roberts (designated to return)S DeMarcco Hellams (designated to return)WR KhaDarel HodgeCB Billy Bowman Jr.DL Zach HarrisonQB Michael Penix Jr.LB DeAngelo MaloneOT Storm NortonOL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.DL Bralen TriceQB Emory JonesOL Ryan Hayes (practice squad IR)OT Kaleb McGaryReserve/Physically unable to perform listReserve/Non-football injury list
Sunday’s game starts at 1 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Falcons are favored but the Saints have won four straight games.