Falcons Release Jared Ivey, Drake Jackson
Atlanta cuts two defensive players ahead of Week 9 as the team sits at 3-5.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
The Atlanta Falcons released linebacker Jared Ivey and defensive end Drake Jackson ahead of Week 9. The moves come as the Falcons stand at 3-5 this season.
Why it matters
The cuts reflect roster decisions made as the Falcons look to reshape their depth with the season past the midpoint. No NFC South team is above .500 this season, leaving Atlanta within reach of the division race.
Ivey finished his Ole Miss career with 26.5 tackles for a loss and 16 sacks, and logged 15 defensive and 10 special teams snaps across two games for Seattle. Atlanta's 3-5 mark this season trails the pace needed for a playoff push.
The players
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a National Football League franchise based in Atlanta, Georgia, and play their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Drake Jackson
Drake Jackson is a defensive end who was a 2022 second-round draft pick out of USC by the San Francisco 49ers.
Jared Ivey
Jared Ivey is a linebacker who went undrafted out of Ole Miss and later won Super Bowl LX with the Seattle Seahawks.
The details
Jackson, a 2022 second-round pick out of USC by the San Francisco 49ers, signed with the Falcons practice squad in September and was later elevated to the active roster ahead of Week 8. Ivey, an undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss, was on the Seattle Seahawks roster that won Super Bowl LX before the Falcons released him.
Timeline
September 2026: Drake Jackson signs with the Falcons practice squad.
Week 8, 2026 season: Falcons lose 16-0 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 9, 2026 season: Ivey and Jackson are released ahead of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Season Trajectory
The releases come as the Falcons sit at 3-5 in a division where no team is above .500, keeping the NFC South race open. Atlanta's roster moves ahead of Week 9 set up a stretch against the Bengals and Chiefs that will shape its playoff outlook.
The releases open active roster spots for the Falcons heading into a Week 9 matchup against the Bengals. Fantasy managers tracking Jackson's usage should note he is no longer on the Falcons' active roster.
The takeaway
Roster churn in midseason often signals how a team is weighing depth against its record, and the Falcons' cuts show that calculation playing out at 3-5. Readers tracking the NFC South should watch how Atlanta uses its remaining roster spots over the next two games.
Further reading
Keep up with the latest moves on the Football beat for more Falcons roster context.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The US Sun.
