Falcons Patch Backfield Depth After Practice-Squad Churn; Herbert Arrival Unlikely to Move Needle on Robinson

The Falcons signed defensive end Drake Jackson and running back Khalil Herbert to their practice squad on Wednesday, filling roster holes created by recent roster moves and injuries. Jackson, who landed on injured reserve with the Commanders on Aug. 25 before being released with an injury settlement, now has a path back to game action after the injury question mark clears. Herbert, a former Bears third-round pick who spent a week and a half with San Francisco before being cut on Aug. 30, gives Atlanta a third-string option at running back after the Cowboys claimed Tyler Goodson off the practice squad on Tuesday.

The Jackson signing carries some intrigue given his pedigree—a 2022 second-round 49ers pick—but his injury history is severe. A torn patellar tendon in his rookie year wiped out his 2024 campaign entirely. He appeared in just 11 games across 2023 and 2025 combined, recording only three tackles in his three-game stint with Washington late last season. Over 26 career games, Jackson has managed 24 tackles, nine quarterback hits, and six sacks. Depth rotations on the defensive line can shift quickly, especially if he demonstrates health in practice, but his snap count in real games remains a distant bet until proven otherwise.

Herbert's addition is even more marginal from a playing-time standpoint. His early-career production in Chicago (433–731 rushing yards annually from 2021–23) has evaporated; he mustered just 52 combined carries across three teams over the past two seasons. The 5-foot-9, 212-pound back sits third on the depth chart behind Bijan Robinson, an elite talent, and Brian Robinson Jr., a capable second option. Herbert profiles as an emergency fill or special-teams contributor, not a snap-share threat. That said, Falcons GM Ian Cunningham ran the Bears' front office during Herbert's productive Chicago years—familiarity explains the signing, even if production won't follow.

From a prop-betting lens, neither arrival moves the needle on player prop projections. Jackson's defensive snap count will depend entirely on health clearance and performance in practice; any edge there is contingent on early-season injury reports and coaching staff communication—noise signals at this stage. Herbert's workload remains capped by Robinson's usage and offensive scheme. Take-away: neither signing is a catalyst for meaningful line movement on Falcons offensive or defensive props.