Falcons Rule Out Ebukam, Branch for Bengals
Atlanta will be without two players with hamstring injuries as it looks to bounce back from a 16-0 loss to Tampa Bay.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
The Atlanta Falcons ruled out linebacker Samson Ebukam and wide receiver Zachariah Branch for their Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals after both suffered hamstring injuries. The Falcons fell 16-0 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, dropping to 3-5 on the season.
Why it matters
The absences come at a difficult point for Atlanta, which lost its most recent game without completing a single pass. With the Bengals' passing attack considered one of the league's most dangerous, the injuries further thin a roster already struggling to find consistency.
Atlanta fell 16-0 to Tampa Bay, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throwing four interceptions, and the team became the first in the modern era to lose while giving up zero completed passes. Neither injured player's return timeline has been announced.
The players
Kevin Stefanski
Stefanski is the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who announced the injury status of Ebukam and Branch ahead of the Bengals game.
Samson Ebukam
Ebukam is an Atlanta Falcons linebacker and pass rusher who is out this week with a hamstring injury.
Zachariah Branch
Branch is an Atlanta Falcons wide receiver who is out this week with a hamstring injury.
Michael Penix Jr.
Penix Jr. is the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback, who threw four interceptions in the loss to Tampa Bay.
James Pearce Jr.
Pearce Jr. is a Falcons defender now eligible to return after serving an eight-game suspension, and is expected to help against the Bengals passing attack.
The details
Coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Ebukam and Branch are out this week with hamstring injuries. Branch also struggled in October against the Chicago Bears, adding to his recent difficulties. The update was first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on X.
Timeline
Sunday: Falcons lose 16-0 to the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.
October: Branch struggles in a loss to the Chicago Bears.
Week 9 (approx. November 8-9): Falcons face the Bengals in Madrid.
Week 9, 9:30 a.m. ET: Bengals-Falcons kickoff.
Season Trajectory
The 16-0 loss, in which Atlanta became the first modern-era team to lose while completing zero passes, leaves the Falcons at 3-5 and hard-pressed to recover. The Week 9 matchup against Cincinnati, now without two key players, becomes an early test of whether the team can stabilize.
Fantasy managers rostering Branch or Ebukam will need replacements for Week 9, as both are out with hamstring injuries. Pearce Jr.'s return after his eight-game suspension adds a new option on the Falcons defense.
The takeaway
Injuries and a historically poor offensive showing have compounded Atlanta's early-season struggles, making the coming weeks a key stretch for the team's direction. Fans and fantasy managers should monitor official injury updates closely before Week 9.
What happens next
The Falcons and Bengals meet in Madrid in Week 9, with kickoff at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Further reading
Follow the latest in Football coverage for more on the Falcons' season.
