Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) answers questions after practice during training camp at IBM Performance Field.
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
With the Atlanta Falcons facing the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 on Thursday night, the team had to make a frustrating injury move regarding star cornerback A.J. Terrell. As the Falcons placed the key cornerback on the injured reserve (IR), the team would then make another move in trying to add a piece to the roster.
According to NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Atlanta is “working to sign” cornerback Robert Longerbeam, who was on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles.
“The Falcons are working to sign CB Robert Longerbeam to their active roster off the #Eagles’ practice squad, sources say. A sixth-round pick for the #Ravens last year, Longerbeam heads to Atlanta after A.J. Terrell was placed on IR,” Garafolo wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
This move comes quickly, as on the same day, the Falcons placed Terrell on the IR, with the coinciding move being to sign defensive lineman Zach Harrison to the roster, via Ian Rapoport.
More on the injury to Falcons' A.J. Terrell
Terrell suffered the groin injury in the first quarter of the Falcons' 34-3 defeat to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday, and the loss is a big one, with the 27-year-old crucial to the team's defense. Atlanta's defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich would speak on how Terrell is “the best boundary cornerback in the NFL,” though he has confidence in C.J. Henderson to fill in that void.
“It is rare in this league to have a backup corner like that,” Ulbrich said, via The Athletic. “A.J., in my opinion, is the best boundary cornerback in the NFL. Whenever he has to step out, normally that would be like, ‘My goodness, I gotta protect that (backup), I gotta get the safety over the top, I got to do whatever, they’re gonna go after him.’ I don’t feel any angst when C.J. goes in the game. He goes out, and every time he’s called upon, he steps up and answers the bell.”
At any rate, it remains to be seen when Terrell comes back as the Falcons look to keep the ship afloat with Thursday's game against the Packers.