Big lineup shake-up for the Falcons on Monday Night! Atlanta Falcons fans are in for some surprises as the team announces its inactive players for the upcoming showdown against the Buffalo Bills. But here's where it gets controversial: starting nickel cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. will be sitting out, leaving a gap in Atlanta's defensive backfield.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Falcons have confirmed that Billy Bowman Jr., who usually starts at the nickel position, will not play in Monday Night Football against the Bills. This opens the door for Dee Alford, who has been filling in at A.J. Terrell's spot while Terrell recovers from a hamstring injury. Terrell, however, is expected to return to the starting lineup this Monday, as he was not given a game designation on Saturday's injury report.
Bowman's absence comes after he appeared on the team's injury report late last week with knee and hamstring issues. He was initially listed as questionable in the team's Saturday update, which also ruled out wide receiver Darnell Mooney due to a hamstring injury.
Adding to the intrigue, the Falcons have decided to keep wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud inactive against the Bills, even though he is not injured. This makes McCloud a healthy scratch, leaving fans to wonder about the strategy behind this choice.
With Mooney and McCloud out, Atlanta may rely on Casey Washington, KhaDarel Hodge, and possibly kick returner Jamal Agnew to fill the void in the receiving corps. The team also used a standard practice squad elevation to bring up receiver Deven Thompkins for this matchup, giving the Falcons some fresh options to mix into their game plan.
Here's the complete list of Falcons' inactives for Week 6 vs. Buffalo Bills:
- WR Darnell Mooney
- CB Clark Phillips III
- CB Billy Bowman Jr.
- WR Ray-Ray McCloud III
- RB Nathan Carter
- OL Jack Nelson
- DL LaCale London
The Falcons’ coaching staff will have some interesting decisions to make as they adjust to these absences. How will these lineup changes impact their strategy against a high-powered Bills offense? And with some healthy scratches in play, could these choices spark debate among fans and analysts alike?
For more details on practice squad elevations and where to watch the game, check out the Falcons’ official updates: Practice Squad Elevations | Game Broadcast Info | Top Headlines.
