Safety DeMarcco Hellams has a chance to return for Sunday’s season finale vs. the Saints.
The Atlanta Falcons made a few moves ahead of their season finale against the New Orleans Saints, signing defensive lineman Patrick Jenkins to the practice squad and designating safety DeMarcco Hellams to return from the injured reserve list.
Jenkins, a nose tackle who went undrafted out of Tulane in 2025, signed with the Arizona Cardinals before the season but was waived at the NFL cut deadline. The Falcons just ruled out defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus for the season finale, so Jenkins can provide some interior depth on defense.
Hellams, a former seventh-round pick, thrived for the Falcons as a rookie in 2023 before missing the entire 2024 season due to an ankle injury. Hellams has appeared in 11 games this season, recording 10 tackles (four solo) and one fumble recovery while primarily playing on special teams.
Check out the Falcons’ updated 53-man roster and practice squad entering Week 18.
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 (4)Jalon Walker (11)Arnold Ebiketie (17)James Pearce Jr. (27)Leonard Floyd (56)ILB (5)Divine Deablo (0)Ronnie Harrison (36)JD Bertrand (40)Josh Woods (42)Kaden Elliss (55)Cornerback (7)Dee Alford (20)Mike Hughes (21)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 squadPatrick Jenkins (TBD)LB Eugene Asante (53)S Tysheem Johnson (41)EDGE Khalid Kareem (92)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 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 NFC South showdown starts at 1 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Falcons have won three straight games while the Saints come to town riding a four-game winning streak.