Falcons place CB AJ Terrell on the reserve/COVID-19 list, out vs. Bears

Atlanta Falcons rookie cornerback AJ Terrell is going on the COVID-19 list.

AJ Terrell becomes the first NFL player to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this season.

The Atlanta Falcons used their first-round pick on the former Clemson Tigers standout to bolster their lackluster secondary. Atlanta has been one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL this season, and will now be down at least three starters in the secondary vs. the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Cornerback Kendall Sheffield (foot) and safety Ricardo Allen (elbow) have been ruled out.

Are the Atlanta Falcons falling to 0-3 on Sunday with a depleted secondary?

The Falcons have made the following corresponding moves with Terrell going on the reserve/COVID-19 list. They have promoted the following three players to the active roster for Sunday’s home game vs. the 2-0 Bears: Cornerback Delrick Adams, cornerback Tyler Adams and linebacker Edmond Robinson. The first two offset Sheffield and Allen, with the latter for Terrell.

Contact tracing goes into effect with Terrell, whose test from Friday came back positive this morning. He did practice with the team on Friday ahead of Sunday’s game. This is not ideal for anyone involved, but the NFL has built in these coronavirus testing protocols. Though the game on Sunday vs. the Bears could be postponed or even canceled, the NFL prepared for this, so we’ll see.

Atlanta should be 1-1, but blew yet another lead in a game that was a certain victory last week vs. the Dallas Cowboys. Though they do host a 2-0 Bears team, this is a team whose two victories are over NFC bottom-feeders in the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants. With Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback, this may become the weakest 3-0 team to ever play ball.

Let’s hope the Falcons and Bears can play on Sunday, but if they can’t, we understand why.