The Atlanta Falcons released defensive back Malcolm DeWalt IV from their 53-man roster on Thursday, according to team reporter Tori McElhaney. DeWalt, an undrafted free agent out of Akron, signed with the Falcons following the 2026 NFL Draft and made the roster out of training camp.

However, DeWalt was a healthy scratch in the team's first six games of the 2026 season. The promising young playmaker should be a practice squad candidate for the Falcons, assuming he doesn't sign with another team.

So why did Atlanta release DeWalt? We expect it has something to do with A.J. Terrell's return to practice. Terrell, who's been on the injured reserve list since Week 3, was designated to return from IR on Wednesday.

While the star cornerback has a 21-day practice window to decide whether or not to activate him, Terrell was a full participant in his first practice since his groin injury. That bodes well for his chances of playing on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Check out the Falcons' updated 53-man roster (which currently sits at 52 players) and 16-man practice squad below.

Quarterbacks (4)

• Michael Penix Jr. (9)

• Tua Tagovailoa (1)

• Andy Dalton (13)

Running Backs (2)

• Bijan Robinson (7)

• Brian Robinson Jr. (15)

Wide Receivers (5)

• Drake London (5)

• Jahan Dotson (4)

• Olamide Zaccheaus (14)

• Chris Blair (19)

Tight Ends (4)

• Kyle Pitts (8)

• Austin Hooper (81)

• Charlie Woerner (89)

• Nick Muse (87)

Offensive Linemen (9)

• Jake Matthews (70)

• Matthew Bergeron (65)

• Ryan Neuzil (64)

• Chris Lindstrom (63)

• Jawaan Taylor (71)

• Michael Jerrell (72)

• Kyle Hinton (68)

• Corey Levin (62)

Defensive Linemen (9)

• Gervon Dexter (95)

• Brandon Dorlus (54)

• Maason Smith(92)

• Samson Ebukam (52)

• LaCale London (94)

• Za'Darius Smith (55)

• Cameron Thomas (99)

• Zach Harrison (96)

• Charles Snowden (reported)*

Linebackers (6)

• Divine Deablo (0)

• Christian Harris (45)

• Josh Woods (42)

• Jared Ivey (51)

Defensive Backs (10)

• Mike Hughes (21)

• Billy Bowman Jr. (33)

• C.J. Henderson (26)

• Mike Ford Jr. (28)

• Jessie Bates III (3)

• Xavier Watts (31)

• DeMarcco Hellams (23)

• Sydney Brown (29)

• Robert Longerbeam (37)

Special Teams (3)

Falcons practice squad

1. WR Vinny Anthony (86)

2. OL Kam Dewberry (61)

3. WR Dylan Drummond (80)

4. DB Darnay Holmes (30)

5. OT Riley Mahlman (76)

6. TE Jack Velling (84)

7. WR Antwane Wells (82)

8. OL Josh Thompson (67)

9. DL Zacch Pickens (93)

10. DE Drake Jackson (91)

11. RB Khalil Herbert (25)

12. OL Colby Sorsdal (74)

13. LB Brian Asamoah (41)

14. RB Jam Miller (38)

15. S Jammie Robinson (34)

16. LB T.J. Quinn (43)

Reserve Lists

• Da'Shawn Hand (Reserve/Injured)

• LB Yasir Abdullah (Reserve/Injured)

• CB A.J. Terrell (Reserve/Injured) 

• EDGE James Pearce Jr. (suspended)

• WR Beaux Collins (Reserve/Injured) 

• OT Storm Norton (Reserve/PUP)

• LB DeAngelo Malone (Reserve/PUP)

• DE Keshawn Banks (Reserve/Injured)

• LB JD Bertrand (Reserve/Injured)

• LB Jalon Walker (Reserve/Injured)

• RB Trey Sermon (Reserve/Injured)

• DT Anterio Thompson (Reserve/NFI)

• OT Cameron Williams (Reserve/Injured)

The Falcons will look to slow down the high-powered San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. Sunday's game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Ben Stadium in Atlanta.