The Atlanta Falcons will be missing a promising rookie for the foreseeable future.
Falcons third-round outside linebacker Bralen Trice, who suffered a left leg injury in Friday night’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins, has been placed on the reserve/injured list, the team announced Sunday afternoon.
Defensive back Harrison Hand joins Trice on the injured list with a knee injury. Trice and Hand will both miss the entire season.
The Falcons also announced the release of quarterback Nathan Rourke, who completed 3 of 13 passes for 37 yards and two runs for 24 yards in the game against Miami.
In the process, Atlanta signed receiver Jakeem Grant, running back Spencer Brown and quarterback John Paddock, who was released in favor of Rourke on August 1 but is now on the other side of the transaction.
Grant is a two-time All-Pro return specialist who has missed the past two seasons due to injury. Brown went undrafted out of UAB in 2021 and spent the past three years on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. Paddock impressed the Falcons this summer with his arm talent and work ethic, making his initial release surprising.
Trice is a critical loss for Atlanta’s defense, which has questions at the outside linebacker position that the former University of Washington star should help answer. But after Friday night’s scene at Hard Rock Stadium, such an absence seemed the most likely outcome.
Trice, 23, rolled on the ground in pain for several seconds before receiving medical attention. He was helped to his feet and slowly walked toward the sideline, placing slight weight on his left leg and wrapping his arms around a pair of Falcons sneakers.
Atlanta opened its blue medical tent for Trice, who spent the final 26 seconds of the first half there. As the clock hit zero, he slowly walked to the locker room. He still limped, but not as severely as before. Still, he had his right arm wrapped around a trainer and was moving noticeably slower than the rest of his teammates.
The Falcons did not provide an update on safety DeMarcco Hellams, who was carted off the field on the defense’s second play of the game Friday. Falcons coach Raheem Morris will next address reporters Monday morning.
