Dee Alford stepped in for Terrell in Week 2, playing all vacated snaps and not allowing a reception on two targets. He’ll likely start if Terrell cannot play, but Morris framed a competition that could still spread snaps among Phillips III, Brooks, Ford Jr., and Henderson.

If Terrell sits, Dee Alford inherits top-coverage duties, with Brooks and Phillips III as backups. Alford’s performance will shape Falcons' pass defense confidence and influence Panthers' outside target strategies. His ability to lock down receivers could stabilize ATL’s secondary and limit Carolina’s upside.

Dee Alford is projected to absorb most of Terrell's snaps after the injury, moving from a special-teams specialist to a larger defensive role as Atlanta adjusts to a cornerback vacancy.

Dee Alford started 11 games last season but struggled with consistency, leading to increased competition for his position this year. His performance in 2023 has put pressure on his role in the upcoming season.

Dee Alford is expected to start alongside Terrell and Hughes, contributing to a revamped Falcons defense with his skills and understanding of the game.