FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have signed defensive tackle Sam Roberts to the active roster, the organization announced Saturday. Roberts has been on the Carolina Panthers' practice squad since the unit was announced at the end of August.
According to NFL rules, if a player on another team's practice squad is picked up by a different team, they must be signed to the active, 53-man roster. You cannot sign a player on another team's practice squad to your practice squad.
The Falcons had an open spot on their 53-man roster after releasing wide receiver David Sills V on Friday afternoon. Sills returned to the team's practice squad Saturday before being used as one of the team's standard practice squad elevations.
Roberts has been with the Panthers since November 2024, when he was signed to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster in December, and saw action in three games for Carolina.
The defensive tackle entered the league in 2022, when he was drafted in the sixth round by the New England Patriots. He was released by the organization upon roster cut downs two years later. He spent a month on the Chicago Bears practice squad in 2024 prior to the Panthers picking him up in November.
The Falcons are set to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET.