Kevin Stefanski provides slew of Falcons injury updates

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kevin Stefanski provides slew of Falcons injury updates

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated Aug 17, 2026 2:47 PM ET

A slew of Falcons starters are dealing with nicks and bruises leading up to the season, but outside of Jalon Walker, who was lost for the entire season after suffering a torn ACL, it doesn’t appear any of them are in serious danger of missing Week 1 at the moment.

At practice on Monday, Kevin Stefanski provided a handful of updates. Jake Matthews, who left early in the first quarter of the Falcons’ preseason game against the Broncos, has a leg injury that isn’t anything too severe. He wasn’t dressed out Monday, but Stefanski likes his odds of contributing some as the team competes against Indianapolis in joint practices.

Kevin Stefanski says Jake Matthews will not be practicing today, but "feels good about" the prospect of him participating in Indy. #Falcons

— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) August 17, 2026

Sticking with the positivity, the Falcons’ starting safety duo of Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts, both of whom missed the first preseason game, have begun working their way back into practice. They still aren’t participating in 11-on-11 drills, but things are trending in the right direction.

Avieon Terrell, Divine Deablo, Da’Shawn Hand , and Bralen Trice did not dress for practice.

– Jessie Bates, Xavier Watts dressed but no team work, Jake Matthews, Avieon Terrell, Divine Deablo, Da’Shawn Hand, Bralen Trice did not dress
– Next practices will be joint workout vs. Colts in Indy on Wednesday and Thursday
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— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 17, 2026