The Falcons got some bad news ahead of tonight’s showdown with the Eagles. The team announced that linebacker Nate Landman has been placed on injured reserve. The team also announced that they signed cornerback Kevin King to the active roster and elevated safety Dane Cruikshank from the practice squad.
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Landman had already been ruled out for Monday Night Football after being sidelined with a calf injury throughout the week. It’s uncertain if this is related to the quad injury that the linebacker was fighting towards the end of the preseason. Landman started Atlanta’s season opener, appearing in about half of his team’s defensive snaps while contributing seven total tackles.
The former UDFA saw a limited role as a rookie before breaking out in 2023. Landman was inserted into the starting lineup following Troy Andersen‘s season-ending injury, and the fill-in proceeded to start 14 of his 16 appearances. The Colorado product finished the campaign with 110 tackles, two sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Fortunately for the Falcons, there’s still plenty of ILB depth on the roster. Kaden Elliss obviously leads the depth chart, and Andersen got into 31 defensive snaps during his return in Week 1. The Falcons are also rostering fifth-round rookie JD Bertrand. Still, that didn’t stop the organization from at least exploring some outside help. We learned late last week that the team hosted free agent linebackers Kwon Alexander, Rashaan Evans, and Josh Woods.
King got into a handful of snaps for the Falcons in Week 1, the first time he’s seen the field for a regular season game since the 2021 campaign. The former Packers starter is one of six CBs on the active roster, although Antonio Hamilton will be sidelined again tonight as he recovers from a groin injury. Cruikshank has bounced around the NFL in recent seasons and could make his 2024 debut tonight.