The Atlanta Falcons placed edge rusher Ade Ogundeji on injured reserve according to a release from the official site. Ogundeji suffered a lower-leg injury at practice on Monday. The move to injured reserve ends his 2023 season.
Ogundeji started 16 games for the Falcons last year and had 42 tackles and two sacks. He was part of general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith’s first draft class as a fifth-round pick in 2021.
Lack of options on the defensive line forced Ogundeji into action as a rookie. He played in 16 games and started 11 with 33 tackles and a sack.
Ogundeji wasn’t guaranteed to make the 53-man active roster in 2023 despite starting 27 games over the last two seasons. The Falcons have drafted three edge rushers in the last two draft classes. They took Arnold Ebiketie (2nd round) and DeAngelo Malone (3rd round) in 2022 and Zach Harrison (3rd round) in April.
They signed Bud Dupree as a free agent and retained free agent Lorenzo Carter. The depth at edge is significantly better than it’s been previous two seasons, but that depth took a blow with the loss of Ogundeji.
In a corresponding move, the Falcons announced they had signed defensive end Demone Harris. Harris has been in the NFL since 2018 and has seen time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans.
The Atlanta Falcons also waived LaColby Tucker. Tucker was signed last week as a potential reserve offensive lineman, but lasted just over a week with the team.
