Bertrand (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Broncos, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Bertrand downgraded to a DNP on Friday after opening the Falcons' week of practice with consecutive limited sessions. The rookie from Notre Dame must still pass through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol before taking the field again. Expect Rashaan Evans to serve as one of the Falcons' top rotational inside linebackers until Bertrand returns.
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Falcons' JD Bertrand: Out for Sunday
Rotowire
Bertrand (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints.
Bertrand has yet to pass through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and is now in line to miss his second consecutive game Sunday. Rashaan Evans is expected to see increased work on the Falcons' special-teams unit with Bertrand sidelined in Week 10.
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Falcons' JD Bertrand: Will be sidelined Week 9
Rotowire
Bertrand (concussion) won't play against the Cowboys on Sunday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Bertrand was concussed in Sunday's win over Tampa Bay and hasn't cleared the NFL's five-step protocol. The linebacker logged 73 percent of the team's defensive snaps in Week 5 but has otherwise played primarily on special teams. Bertrand's absence Sunday could pave the way for Rashaan Evans, who was signed to the 53-player roster Friday, to see some work on defense immediately.
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Falcons' JD Bertrand: Doesn't practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Bertrand (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Bertrand played 37 total snaps (16 defensive and 21 on special teams) and recorded two total tackles in Sunday's win over Tampa Bay, however, it appears he picked up a concussion in the process. He'll need to clear the NFL's five-step protocol in order to suit up in Week 9, when the Falcons host the Cowboys.
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Falcons' JD Bertrand: Set for start Thursday
Rotowire
Bertrand is positioned to start Thursday's divisional matchup against the Buccaneers due to Troy Andersen (knee) being ruled out and Nate Landman (calf) still on IR, Daniel Flick of SI.com reports.
Bertrand, a rookie fifth-round pick, will be tasked with taking on a starting role after being mostly limited to special teams to begin his career. He played eight defensive snaps (11 percent) versus the Saints in Week 4 after playing just one defensive snap, the first of his NFL career, in Week 3. Andersen, while filling in for Landman in Week 2 and Week 3, played 94 and 99 percent of defensive snaps, so Bertrand could be thrust into a similar spotlight role versus Tampa Bay's offense.
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Falcons' JD Bertrand: Heads home to Atlanta
Rotowire
The Falcons selected Bertrand in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 143rd overall.
A metro Atlanta native, Bertrand comes home to the Falcons after spending his college career at Notre Dame. Bertrand led the Irish in tackles each of his last three seasons, topping out at 101 in 2021. A foot injury prevented him from testing during the pre-draft process, but the film shows him to be an instinctive 'backer and sure tackler. He has some thump at 235 pounds but has been knocked for short arms (30.63-inches), which raise questions about his ability to shed blocks and find the ball carrier. Kaden Elliss and Troy Andersen block Bertrand's path to starting, so special teams may be his quickest route to the field early in his career.
