Falcons' Dee Alford: Picks off Mayfield in Week 15
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Alford recorded three total tackles (all solo) and one interception in Thursday's 29-28 win over the Buccaneers.
Alford nabbed a crucial fourth-quarter interception that set up a Falcons touchdown and pulled the game within one score Thursday. He's been an integral part of Atlanta's secondary this season, tallying 56 total tackles, 10 passes defensed, including two interceptions, and one forced fumble across 13 appearances. The Tusculum product is expected to continue operating as the team's top slot corner in the Week 16 matchup against the Cardinals.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Racks up 10 tackles in return
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Alford tallied 10 tackles (nine solo), a defensed pass and a fumble recovery Sunday in a 24-10 Week 12 win over the Saints.
Alford didn't play in Week 11 due to a concussion but was cleared in time to suit up Sunday. He ended up leading the Falcons in tackles while reaching the double-digit mark for the first time this season. Alford also had a fumble recovery early in the game that led to a Falcons field goal. The fourth-year cornerback will likely see a larger role moving forward with Billy Bowman out for the season due to a torn Achilles.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Cleared for Week 12 return
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Alford (concussion) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Saints, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Alford has cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and will return following a one-game absence. He could be used in the slot in the absence of Billy Bowman (Achilles), or Alford may slot in as a backup at outside cornerback.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Full practice participant Thursday
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Alford (concussion) practiced in full Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Alford suffered a concussion in Week 10 against Indianapolis and didn't play against Carolina this past Sunday. He began prep this week with a limited session, then upgraded to full Thursday. Alford thus seems in line to return to action in Week 12 against the Saints, though he'll first need to clear concussion protocol if he hasn't done so already.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Won't return vs. Indianapolis
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Alford (concussion) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Colts, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Alford was assessed by medical staff after taking a hit to the head in the first half, and the fourth-year pro has entered the league's concussion protocol and will not return. Natrone Brooks and Keith Taylor are in line for more snaps at outside corner in Alford's absence.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Possible concussion
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Alford is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Colts, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Alford took a hit to the head in the first quarter of Sunday's game, and he is being evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return. He got the start at corner in the absence of Mike Hughes (neck), so the Falcons could opt to insert Natrone Brooks at outside corner or shift Billy Bowman from the slot for as long as Alford is out of the game.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Minimal role in Week 7
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Alford recorded one tackle (one solo) during Sunday's 20-10 loss at San Francisco.
The 49ers ran the ball on 59 percent of their offensive snaps in Week 7, so Alford was only on the field for 22 plays on defense, limiting his opportunities. With a pass-dependent Dolphins attack on tap for Week 8, Alford is set up nicely for a bounce-back game.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Re-signs with Atlanta
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Alford re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract Monday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.
The Falcons opted not to tender Alford as a restricted rights free agent in March, which made the 27-year-old cornerback an unrestricted free agent. After testing the market, Alford has decided to return to Atlanta, where he made 11 starts last season, posting 11 passes defensed and 83 tackles (61 solo) in 16 appearances.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Will be unrestricted free agent
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Atlanta will not tender Alford's contract, Daniel Flick of SI.com reports.
Alford is coming off a season in which he set a career high in tackles (83), though that may partially have been a function of his being less dominant in coverage than he was during his first two years as a pro. He'll be free to make a deal with any bidder when the legal tampering period begins on March 10.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Sets new career highs
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Alford finished with 83 tackles (61 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 11 pass breakups and a forced fumble, all career-best marks, across 16 games in 2024.
The slot cornerback also played on a majority of the defensive snaps in 12 of his 16 games. In 2022, Alford signed a three-year, $2.57 million contract with the Falcons. Now, he'll become a restricted free agent, meaning Atlanta can match any offer from another team.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Cleared to play Sunday
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Alford (groin) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Alford has missed just one game this season and enters Week 18 with 76 tackles (56 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 pass breakups and one forced fumble as one of Atlanta's starting outside cornerbacks. Sunday's Week 18 contest has playoff implications for the Falcons, who are still alive for the NFC South title.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Past hamstring injury
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Alford (hamstring) was listed as a full participant on Thursday's practice report, Daniel Flick of SI.com reports.
Alford was limited in Wednesday's practice due to a hamstring injury that forced him to be sidelined against the Broncos in Week 11, but he looks to be on track to play Sunday against the Chargers. Through 10 regular-season games, Alford has logged 54 tackles (43 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and six passes defensed.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Opens week with limited work
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Alford (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Daniel Flick of SI.com reports.
Alford was sidelined for Atlanta's Week 11 loss to the Broncos after sustaining a hamstring injury the game prior. He had some additional recovery time with the Falcons' Week 12 bye; however, Wednesday's limited session suggests he's still dealing with the issue. Alford's practice participation Thursday and Friday will offer the best insight into whether he can return for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: DNP on Wednesday
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Alford (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday.
Alford played just 21 total snaps (15 defensive and six on special teams) and recorded one tackle before exiting Sunday's loss to the Saints with a hamstring injury. If 27-year-old is unable to upgrade to at least limited participation either Thursday or Friday, he'll likely miss the Falcons' Week 11 matchup against the Broncos.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Healthy for Week 6
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Alford (concussion) holds no injury designation for Sunday's game against Carolina.
Alford left last Thursday's matchup against the Buccaneers early with a concussion, but it appears he's healed and ready to take on the Panthers this Sunday. The 5-foot-11 cornerback has 29 tackles (22 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two passes defended so far this season.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Enters protocol
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Alford was placed in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in last Thursday's 36-30 win over the Buccaneers, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Alford suffered the injury in the first quarter and was not allowed to return to the game. In his absence, Antonio Hamilton took over slot corner duties and recorded two combined tackles. Hamilton will likely be tasked with that role again if Alford doesn't get clearance to suit up for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Departs Thursday with head injury
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Alford is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return to Thursday's contest versus Tampa Bay, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Alford was hurt in the first quarter while making a tackle of Chris Godwin. Antonio Hamilton entered as the Falcons' nickel corner in Alford's stead and will likely be asked to hold down that role if the latter is unable to return.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Nonfactor down the stretch
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Alford finished 2023 with 41 tackles (25 solo), six pass defenses and one fumble recovery in 16 appearances. He also recorded 13 kick-return yards and 160 punt-return yards.
After being a regular defensive contributor for the first 14 weeks of the season, Alford was relegated to primarily operating on special teams over the final four games. He's under contract for one more season, but if the Falcons make any additions to their secondary this offseason, Alford's defensive role could become obsolete in 2024.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Ruled out for Week 10
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Alford (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 10 game against the Cardinals.
Alford got in a limited practice Thursday but was downgraded to DNP again Friday. Alford picked up the injury in Week 9. With the second-year cornerback out, the Falcons will need to replace his 71 percent playing time clip in the secondary. They have a number of different options.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Misses practice
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Alford (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Alford exited Sunday's game against the Vikings with the injury and should currently be considered questionable for Week 10 against the Cardinals. If he is unable to play, Clark Phillips will likely handle nickel corner duties, while Mike Hughes and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) would be candidates to handle return duties.
