With Nate Landman placed on injured reserve, the Atlanta Falcons have strengthened their linebacker corps by adding a former Arizona Cardinals starter. The team announced Thursday that they signed inside linebacker Josh Woods to the practice squad, addressing a key area of need.
This move comes as the Falcons’ linebacker group is now thin, with only three players—Kaden Elliss, Troy Andersen, and rookie J.D. Bertrand—remaining on the active roster. The need for reinforcement arose after Atlanta put Landman on injured reserve earlier this week due to quad and calf injuries.
In the Falcons’ recent 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Elliss played every defensive snap, while Andersen saw action for 67 snaps. Bertrand was limited to special teams duty. During the Week 1 matchup, Landman and Andersen had been rotating alongside Elliss. With Landman now sidelined for at least three weeks, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris acknowledged the lack of depth at the linebacker position, stating in a virtual press conference, “We’re probably a little thin, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in those three guys to go out there and execute what we need to get done.” Morris also expressed hope for Landman’s return once he recovers.
Woods, 28, brings much-needed experience to the roster. Since entering the NFL in 2018, Woods has played for the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Arizona Cardinals. Over his five professional seasons, he has appeared in 65 games, starting eight, and accumulated 122 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits.
In 2023, Woods started seven games and played in four others for the Cardinals, recording a career-high 61 tackles and two tackles for loss. He was heavily involved in Arizona’s defense, participating in 78% of the team’s defensive snaps during the games he played.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 230 pounds, Woods, a University of Maryland alum, had been out of action since December 2023 due to an abdominal injury that landed him on injured reserve. The Falcons worked him out on September 13, and now, with his addition to the squad, the team hopes to integrate him into their lineup in the coming weeks.
Woods’ arrival offers Atlanta a veteran presence in a position group that has been severely impacted by injuries, and his experience could prove crucial as the Falcons navigate the next stretch of their season.
