According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, 2021 fifth-round pick Ade Ogundeji is heading to the Injured Reserve. He suffered an ankle injury in practice over the weekend, and it has been reported that he will need surgery.
The Falcons are sending OLB Ade Ogundeji to the injured reserve list, according to a source.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 15, 2023
Ogundeji, a fifth-round pick in 2021, has started 27 games for the Falcons in the last two years but will need surgery after suffering an ankle injury in practice Sunday. https://t.co/avVY9VD5a4
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 15, 2023
This is a tough blow for a player that was already on the roster bubble. Ogundeji started 27 games for the Falcons over the last two seasons with middling results, combining for 75 tackles, eight of which went for loss, with three sacks.
Given his draft status and experience, Ogundeji had a decent shot of making the 53-man roster for Week 1 prior to the injury, but it was far from a guarantee. The Falcons defensive line is one of the most improved units in all of football heading into 2023.
Armed with a mountain of cap space and a primary goal of improving the trenches, the Falcons went out and brought in David Onyemata, Bud Dupree, and Calais Campbell to bolster the unit. For the first time in years, the Falcons have quality depth across the defensive line, and the battle for the final few spots on the roster was set to be fierce. We’ll see if Ogundeji is able to make it back at some point this season, but we might have already seen the last of the former fifth-round pick as a member of the Falcons.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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