Falcons 2026 roster: Atlanta claims three players off waivers, waive Zach Harrison and Natrone Brooks

The Atlanta Falcons have initiated a series of significant roster adjustments following the NFL's mandatory cutdown period. According to an official announcement from the Atlanta Falcons, the organization has claimed three players off the waiver wire to bolster their active squad. Simultaneously, coverage from The Falcoholic reports that the team has moved in the opposite direction by waiving two specific players, Zach Harrison and Natrone Brooks. These moves come as the team finalizes its personnel for the 2026 season, balancing the acquisition of new talent with the release of existing players to meet league roster limits. Multiple outlets are tracking these personnel shifts with varying levels of detail.

While the Atlanta Falcons provided the primary confirmation regarding the three waiver claims, The Falcoholic focused specifically on the departures of Harrison and Brooks. Further reporting from AJC.com expanded the scope of the team's roster management by announcing the initial practice squad. According to AJC.com, this developmental group includes players such as Goodson, Holmes, and Jones. These transactions are a standard but critical part of the NFL calendar, occurring immediately after roster cutdowns. The process of claiming players off waivers allows teams to acquire talent released by other organizations, while waiving players like Zach Harrison and Natrone Brooks makes them available to the rest of the league.

Future developments will likely center on whether the three newly claimed players integrate into the active game-day rotation or if further adjustments are made to the practice squad. Because the team has just announced its initial practice squad members, observers will be watching for any subsequent additions or subtractions as the 2026 season approaches. The current status of Zach Harrison and Natrone Brooks remains that of waived players, and the team's ability to maintain its current depth will depend on the performance of the three waiver acquisitions and the development of the practice squad athletes.