Atlanta Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams has been designated to return from injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday. Hellams was placed on injured reserve in Week 14 due to a hamstring injury. The timing of the injury remains unclear, as he played in the team’s Week 13 loss to the New York Jets and participated in 85% of Atlanta’s special teams snaps during that game. He did not take part in practice following that week.
Before his injury, Hellams appeared in 11 games this season, registering 10 tackles and recovering a fumble. His primary role was on special teams.
Hellams was drafted by Atlanta in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. During his rookie year, he played in 15 games with four starts and recorded 40 tackles. Initially focusing on special teams, he gradually took on more defensive responsibilities throughout the season.
In 2024, Hellams spent the entire season on injured reserve after sustaining an ankle injury during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.
With his designation to return, Hellams becomes the third Falcons player currently within a 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve. Last week, cornerback Clark Phillips III and defensive lineman Sam Roberts were also designated for return. Teams typically must decide whether to add such players back to the active roster or move them to season-ending injured reserve before their respective windows close. There is less than one week remaining in the regular season.
Additionally, on Wednesday, Atlanta signed defensive lineman Patrick Jenkins to its practice squad.
These roster moves occur as the Falcons prepare for their final regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday.
