Arnold Ebiketie sparked the Falcons with the night’s highest mark, a 94.6 PFF grade, plus a trio of pressures that underscored his burst and hand speed. James Pearce Jr. led rookies in pressures with three and earned a 75.1 PFF grade, while Brandon Dorlus turned in the second-best team grade at 92.2. Chris Blair (91.3) and Josh Woods (91.4) also flashed as reliable playmakers. The Falcons’ rookie class showed depth across positions, and inside linemen like Ebiketie and Dorlus provided a blueprint for growth that fantasy managers should watch closely. Morice Norris suffered an injury for Detroit, trimming Lions’ exposure and leaving questions about their defensive depth. The night’s takeaway: Atlanta’s defense looks ready to push for meaningful snaps, with several rookies promising real upside as the season unfolds.

The Arizona Cardinals have a fiercely contested position battle at inside linebacker, contrary to initial expectations centered on finding a successor for 'Mike' linebacker Kyzir White. With White not re-signed, Mack Wilson is poised to fill that role, while the competition intensifies for the 'Will' spot, previously held by Josh Woods. Candidates for this position include free agent Akeem Davis-Gaither, rookie Owen Pappoe, and fourth-round draft pick Cody Simon. Head Coach Jonathan Gannon expressed confidence in the competitive nature of the position, highlighting that all contenders are trending positively.

The Atlanta Falcons have re-signed inside linebacker Tyreek Maddox-Williams to their practice squad, marking his second stint this season. Initially undrafted in 2022, he began his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he spent his first year on the practice squad without seeing game action.

After brief tenures with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals, Maddox-Williams found his way back to Atlanta. He played three games for the Cardinals this season but did not record any statistics. He joins Josh Woods on the Falcons' practice squad.