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Falcons place DL on IR, add Kennesaw State product in corresponding move

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Alex Lord | Last updated 11/1/23

The Falcons didn’t make any major moves at the trade deadline, but they did bolster a couple of thin positions by acquiring Kentavius Street and Van Jefferson.

In the wake of Grady Jarrett’s injury, the Falcons clearly needed to add to the defensive line. There’s no replacing Grady Jarrett, especially with just one player. It’ll take a village.

Along with Street, Travis Bell could prove to be some of that village. The Kennesaw State product was a seventh-round pick by the Bears in the 2023 cycle. He didn’t make the final 53-man roster and wound up on the practice squad, where the Falcons signed him from.

The #Falcons are signing DT Travis Bell off the #Bears practice squad, per source. The Kennesaw State product is returning to Atlanta and joining the 53-man roster.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 31, 2023

The Falcons announced they’ve placed LaCale London on the injured reserve in a corresponding move.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith said they are putting LaCale London on IR.

— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) November 1, 2023

LaCale London became a staple of the defensive front rotation as a reserve interior defender, but Arthur Smith noted that he has a “great chance to return.”

David Onyemata, Calais Campbell, Ta’Quon Graham, Kentavius Street, Albert Huggins, and Joe Gaziano are currently on the roster, along with Timothy Horne on the practice squad. The Falcons will likely doctor the rotation based on matchups.

Huggins hasn’t seen much playing time recently, and Gaziano has yet to appear in a game, so there seems to be an opportunity for Bell to get some serious burn in Ryan Nielsen’s defense. He’s sort of a hometown hero too, becoming the first Kennesaw State player in history to be drafted. I wouldn’t expect much, but it’s an exciting story for locals.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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