The news

The Atlanta Falcons have activated cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. from injured reserve, per @AtlantaFalcons. He had been out with a groin injury. Atlanta took him off the reserve list before Sunday's home game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Terrell Jr. is set to play Sunday. He still carries a questionable designation as he manages his groin recovery. He went through a full practice Friday after returning to practice Wednesday, so the questionable tag looks more like caution than real doubt.

To make room on the active roster Saturday, Atlanta placed an offensive tackle on injured reserve with a bicep injury.

Prior context

Atlanta took Terrell Jr. with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 draft. He has been a key part of the secondary since then. In 2025 he made 68 tackles in 15 games for the Falcons, per ESPN.

His time on injured reserve came at a bad moment for the team. Atlanta is 2-4, holds the No. 9 seed in the conference and has lost two straight. The latest loss was 31-23 to the Chicago Bears on Oct. 18.

Atlanta played last week without Terrell Jr. and another veteran cornerback who was also dealing with a groin injury. The Falcons' No. 48 draft pick, Terrell Jr.'s younger brother, started on the boundary in his place.

What it means

Getting Terrell Jr. back helps on a weekend when other injuries are piling up. Friday's injury report ruled out a starting linebacker (forearm) and a running back (hamstring). The offensive tackle placed on injured reserve (biceps) will also miss the game.

The linebacker's absence leaves a gap in the middle of the defense. Terrell Jr. and the other veteran cornerback both practiced fully Friday and are expected to be available, which helps the perimeter coverage. That means the defense's main weakness this week shifts from the edges to the middle.

The secondary still has some uncertainty. The younger Terrell, who filled in last week, was limited with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. That makes the return of the veteran even more important for depth at cornerback.

The running back situation is also a factor. Atlanta has kept few running backs on its active roster this season. Losing the injured back removes the team's main backup in the backfield, so the Falcons elevated another running back for immediate game-day duty.

The matchup gives Terrell Jr. a clear test. San Francisco also activated a veteran wide receiver from injured reserve. The 49ers had placed him on the list Oct. 15 with a calf issue and removed his questionable tag for Sunday. He caught 28 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown in 13 games in 2025, per ESPN, and is expected to line up opposite Terrell Jr.

What reporters are saying

Terrell Jr. appeared in a league-wide roundup of Saturday activations, per @AdamSchefter. The list included the Falcons cornerback, a Packers running back and a Texans wide receiver. A Vikings running back and a 49ers wide receiver were added later, and the 49ers wideout was no longer listed as questionable.

Per @MikeGarafolo, Green Bay returned its running back to the active roster on a day that also included injured reserve activations for Terrell Jr. and the Houston wide receiver. The roundup noted that Terrell Jr. had been designated to return from injured reserve while recovering from his groin injury.

@Yahoo NFL also reported the activation.

What to watch next

The key question is how much Terrell Jr. plays after his time on injured reserve. His questionable designation will be settled when official inactive lists come out 90 minutes before kickoff.

San Francisco also has injury questions. Its defensive end (knee, calf), a wide receiver (ribs, Achilles), another wide receiver (hamstring) and a cornerback (shoulder) all sat out Thursday's practice. The 49ers will release final injury designations before both teams submit their inactive lists.

For Atlanta, Sunday is a chance to end a two-game losing streak, with its top perimeter defender back in the lineup. If Terrell Jr. and the other veteran cornerback both play, the Falcons can put their usual starting cornerbacks back on the field.

Companion to our earlier report: Falcons activate CB A.J. Terrell Jr. from injured reserve.