The Jaguars acquired Bates from the Falcons on Monday in exchange for a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After falling to 3-6 on the season with a loss to the Bengals over the weekend, the Falcons look to be sellers ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Meanwhile, the addition of Bates should be a major boost to the safety corps of the 6-2 Jaguars, who recently lost Eric Murray to a season-ending elbow injury. In nine games with Atlanta to date, the 29-year-old Bates has recorded 35 tackles and an interception.
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Falcons' Billy Bowman: Inactive for Week 9
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Bowman is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Bowman practiced fully all week and was eligible to return from a two-game absence, but per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, he was left off the roster "not for an injury or performance reason" but rather because of a "numbers game" involving other healthy players.
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Falcons' Yasir Abdullah: Returning to action in Week 9
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Abdullah (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game versus the Bengals in Madrid, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Abdullah was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 10 due to a hamstring injury, and after missing the required four games while on the list, he was designated to return Wednesday and then activated Saturday, setting him up for his first game action since Week 4. A rotational role off the edge is likely for Abdullah with James Pearce (back) making his season debut and all of Cameron Thomas, Za'Darius Smith and Charles Snowden available to the defense.
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Falcons' James Pearce: Season debut on tap
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Pearce (back) is listed as active Sunday versus the Bengals in Madrid, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Pearce completed his eight-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy this week, but after being listed as a full participant on the Falcons' first two Week 9 injury reports, he was limited by a back injury Friday and thus entered the weekend as questionable to play. With his status now clarified for Sunday's matchup, he seems likely to resume his role as one of Atlanta's top pass rushers, which equated to 10.5 sacks among his 26 tackles in 17 regular-season games as a first-round rookie in 2025.
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Falcons' Divine Deablo: Back in action Sunday
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Deablo (forearm) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals in Madrid, Will McFadden of the Falcons; official site reports.
Since suffering a forearm injury during a Week 6 loss to the Bears, Deablo has missed the last two contests, and while he capped Week 9 prep with a questionable designation, his full session Friday signaled that he was closing in on a return to action. With that confirmed, he's a good bet to retake one of the starting inside linebacker spots in the Falcons defense, despite Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins holding down the fort in Deablo's absence.
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Falcons' Yasir Abdullah: Activated from IR, could play Week 9
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The Falcons activated Abdullah (hamstring) from injured reserve Saturday, and he remains questionable for Sunday's battle against the Bengals, Will McFadden of Atlanta's official site reports.
Abdullah was placed on injured reserve Oct. 10 and has missed Atlanta's past four games. He began this week with a pair of limited practices before logging a full session Friday. If he returns to action Sunday, Abdullah could provide a boost to a Falcons linebacker corps that could additionally get back James Pearce (back), who is also questionable.
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Falcons' James Pearce: Questionable for Sunday
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The Falcons listed Pearce (back) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Pearce was reinstated by the NFL on Monday after serving an eight-game suspension. The 23-year-old is expected to play a big role at edge for the Falcons' defense but may be eased back into the lineup to start out.
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Falcons' Divine Deablo: Questionable for Week 9
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The Falcons listed Deablo (forearm) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Deablo was a limited participant in practice both Wednesday and Thursday. The 28-year-old has missed back-to-back games after suffering a forearm injury in Week 6 against Chicago. The sixth-year pro has 30 tackles (15 solo) and one pass breakup in six games this season.
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Falcons' Divine Deablo: Limited at walkthrough
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Deablo (forearm) was considered to be a limited participant at the Falcons' walkthrough practice Wednesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official website reports.
Deablo has missed back-to-back games while nursing a forearm injury that he suffered in Week 6 against Chicago. The linebacker's ability to be limited Wednesday is a step in the right direction, but he will have two more opportunities to log a full practice and move past the forearm issue before Sunday's contest versus the Bengals.
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Falcons' Yasir Abdullah: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Abdullah (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
The Falcons designated Abdullah for return to practice from their injured reserve list Tuesday, and he was able to actually get back on the practice field Wednesday, albeit in a limited capacity. He's eligible to be activated ahead of Sunday's game versus the Bengals, but he'll likely need to manage a full practice Thursday or Friday to have a realistic chance to suit up in Week 9.
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Falcons' Yasir Abdullah: Gets clearance to practice again
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The Falcons designated Abdullah (hamstring) for return to practice from their injured reserve list Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Abdullah went to Atlanta's injured reserve list after hurting his hamstring back in Week 4 at New Orleans, but it now looks like he may be close to returning to game action. The transaction opens a 21-day window during which the Falcons can officially activate Abdullah from IR before they'd have to put him back on the shelf for the rest of the campaign.
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Falcons' Samson Ebukam: Placed on IR
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Ebukam (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve by the Falcons on Tuesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official website reports.
Ebukam suffered a hamstring injury in Week 9 versus the Buccaneers, and he will now be forced to miss at least four contests as a result of the injury. In his absence, Za'Darius Smith is a top candidate to operate in a more prominent role at outside linebacker.
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Falcons' James Pearce: Back from suspension
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The NFL reinstated Pearce on Monday after he served his eight-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy, Darius Hayes of Sports Illustrated reports.
Pearce had to miss the first eight games of the season following an arrest back in February, but he's now back with the Falcons' active roster for Week 9. He projects to eventually play a big role on the edge during the second half of the campaign, but he might get eased back into things to start out.
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Falcons' Samson Ebukam: Won't play Week 9
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Ebukam (hamstring) has been ruled out for Atlanta's Week 9 matchup versus the Bengals, William McFadden of the team's official site reports.
Ebukam got hurt during Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay and could now be in danger of missing multiple games. In his absence, Za'Darius Smith and Charles Snowden will likely see increased playing time.
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Jared Ivey: Let go by Atlanta
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The Falcons waived Ivey on Monday, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Ivey had appeared in seven of Atlanta's first eight games of the campaign, logging eight tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks. The 24-year-old will now look for a new opportunity with another team.
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Falcons' Samson Ebukam: Unlikely to return vs. Tampa Bay
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Ebukam (hamstring) is doubtful to return to Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Ebukam may have aggravated the same hamstring injury that he was dealing with earlier in the season. Za'Darius Smith, Charles Snowden and Jared Ivey are all in line for more defensive snaps.
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Falcons' Avieon Terrell: Cleared to return Sunday
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Terrell (back/illness) is active for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
Terrell didn't play in Week 8 versus the 49ers, his first absence of the 2026 campaign. He practiced in a limited capacity during the week but still couldn't avoid a questionable designation for the divisional meeting with the Buccaneers. However, Terrell now has the green light to return from the one-game layoff, which will likely result in less work for C.J. Henderson (groin) and Mike Ford.
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Falcons' Billy Bowman: Won't play against Bucs
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Bowman (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Bowman was initially tagged as questionable after stringing together consecutive limited practices Thursday and Friday. However, he hasn't progressed enough in his recovery from a hamstring injury to play Sunday, so he'll end up being sidelined for a second consecutive game. Sydney Brown figures to see an uptick in defensive snaps in the absence of Bowman, whose next chance to play is Week 9 against the Bengals on Sunday, Nov. 8.
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Falcons' Divine Deablo: Downgrades to out for Week 8
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Deablo (forearm) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Deablo was initially tagged as questionable after ending Week 8 prep with consecutive limited practices. He'll end up missing a second straight game due to a forearm injury, and his next chance to suit up is Week 9 against the Bengals on Sunday, Nov. 8. Harold Perkins is the top candidate to start alongside Kendal Daniels at inside linebacker in Deablo's absence.
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Falcons' Anterio Thompson: Announces career-ending medical condition
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Thompson posted on social media this week that he was diagnosed with a genetic mutation on his spinal cord in early May and indicated that he was told he will "never play football again," Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
It's an awful situation for Thompson, who had been set for a chance to play in the NFL after being selected by the Falcons in the sixth round of April's draft. Atlanta has not said much about Thompson, who currently resides on the team's reserve/non-football injury list.
