The Atlanta Falcons have formally moved defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand to injured reserve after the season-ending quad injury he suffered in Week 1, while also reshaping the back end of the roster with three corresponding moves.
Atlanta announced Wednesday that tight end Nick Muse has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. The Falcons also signed running back Khalil Herbert and defensive end Drake Jackson to the practice squad, giving the team additional depth on both sides of the ball as it prepares for Week 2.
Hand’s injury forces Atlanta to redistribute defensive-line snaps
Hand’s placement on injured reserve was expected after head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Monday that the veteran defensive lineman would miss the rest of the season with a quad injury. Wednesday’s transaction makes the roster impact official and removes one of the players Atlanta had expected to use as an early-down interior presence.
The Falcons’ official site noted that Hand played only seven defensive snaps in the Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh before leaving with the injury. That is a small sample from one game, but his planned role was larger than the box score suggests. Atlanta had counted on his experience and ability to hold up against the run as part of a defensive front that already has to manage the weekly workload of several veterans.
FSN’s Week 1 recap of Atlanta’s 20-13 loss to Pittsburgh showed how little margin the Falcons had once the game tightened in the second half. Losing a rotational defensive lineman for the season only increases the importance of getting dependable snaps from the rest of the front.
Nick Muse moves onto the 53-man roster
The Falcons used Hand’s roster spot to promote tight end Nick Muse from the practice squad. Muse had already been elevated for Week 1 and contributed on special teams, making him a logical in-house choice for a permanent spot.
His promotion also gives Atlanta another blocking and special-teams option at a time when the offense is still sorting through its quarterback situation and protection plan. Muse is unlikely to become a featured receiver, but tight-end depth can matter quickly when an offense wants to use heavier personnel or help its tackles with chips and combination blocks.
Khalil Herbert and Drake Jackson add upside to the practice squad
The more interesting additions may be Herbert and Jackson. Herbert gives Atlanta another experienced running back who has produced in regular-season roles before, providing insurance behind the active backfield without requiring an immediate 53-man roster commitment.
Jackson is a former second-round pick of the 49ers who has flashed pass-rush ability but has had his career interrupted by injuries. The Falcons are not counting on him to replace Hand directly, since their roles are different, but the practice-squad spot gives Atlanta a chance to evaluate whether Jackson can become useful edge depth later in the season.
That distinction matters. The Hand injury creates an interior defensive-line problem, while Jackson’s best path is likely as an outside or sub-package rusher. Atlanta may still need to solve the interior rotation by committee even if Jackson eventually earns a promotion.
What the roster moves say about Atlanta’s Week 2 priorities
The Falcons did not make one dramatic move to replace Hand. Instead, they used the open roster spot on a player who already helped on game day and used the practice squad to add experienced depth at two other positions.
That is a practical early-season approach. Atlanta can continue evaluating its defensive front while also increasing its options at running back, tight end and edge rusher. It also avoids forcing a major roster decision before the coaching staff sees how the current rotation performs without Hand.
What to watch next
The immediate question is which defensive linemen absorb Hand’s early-down snaps and whether Atlanta adds another interior defender before Sunday. Muse’s role on offense and special teams should also become clearer now that he is on the 53-man roster.
For Herbert and Jackson, the first step is simply getting into the system. If either adapts quickly, the Falcons now have two experienced practice-squad options who could be elevated later without another outside acquisition.
Sources
- Atlanta Falcons: Hand to IR; Muse promoted; Herbert and Jackson signed (September 16, 2026)
- Atlanta Falcons: Da’Shawn Hand ruled out for the season with a quad injury (September 14, 2026)
- NBC Sports: Falcons move Hand to IR and promote Nick Muse (September 16, 2026)