Hellams (hamstring) is active for Sunday Night Football against the Vikings, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official website reports.
Hellams will make his season debut after being forced to miss the team's Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers due to a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old is set to operate as the top reserve option behind Jessie Bates at strong safety versus Minnesota.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Could return Sunday
Rotowire
Hellams (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Vikings, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hellams was unable to suit up in Week 1 due to a hamstring injury, but after logging a week of limited practice sessions, he's got a chance to play Sunday. The third-year safety from Alabama missed the Falcons' entire 2024 campaign with an ankle issue. However, he posted 40 total tackles across 354 defensive snaps in his rookie season. If Hellams can suit up in Week 2, he'd likely serve as Atlanta's top reserve safety.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Returns to practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Hellams (hamstring) participated in practice in a limited fashion Wednesday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hellams didn't practice at all last week and didn't play in Sunday's season-opener versus Tampa Bay, so his ability to participate (albeit in limited fashion) in practice Wednesday represents a step in the right direction. Hellams missed all of last year due to an ankle injury, so when he next gets on the field, it will be his first regular-season action since 2023.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Out for Week 1
Rotowire
Hellams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus Tampa Bay.
A seventh-round pick in 2023, Hellams appeared in 15 regular-season games as a rookie before missing all of 2024 with an ankle injury.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Working through hamstring issue
Rotowire
Hellams did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to a hamstring injury, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
It's not clear when Hellams picked up the injury, but his practice participation Thursday and Friday will provide clarity on his chances of playing in Sunday's regular-season opener against Tampa Bay. Jordan Fuller would be in line to see more rotational snaps at safety behind starters Jessie Bates and Xavier Watts if Hellams is not cleared to play.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Full-go at voluntary workouts
Rotowire
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said last Friday that Hellams (ankle) will be a full participant at voluntary OTAs, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.
Hellams missed the entire 2024 campaign due to a significant ankle sustained during the preseason, but he'll have a full offseason of health to get ready for the 2025 season. Atlanta's decision to sign Jordan Fuller to a one-year deal in free agency will likely relegate Hellams to a rotational or backup role on defense, especially if the Falcons also address the safety spot in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Still not near return
Rotowire
Coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday that Hellams (ankle) is still "slow to go," Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Hellams has been sidelined since the preseason with a serious ankle injury, and it seems like he'll have to remain out at least through Week 13. A return to action in 2024 hasn't been ruled out, but he is starting to run out of time to make it happen.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Return not near
Rotowire
Head coach Raheem Morris told reporters Monday that Hellams (ankle) is still "weeks away" from returning, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
The 2023 seventh-round pick out of Alabama has yet to suit up for the Falcons this season after sustaining an ankle injury in early August that landed him on injured reserve. Morris' comments Monday indicate that Hellams still has a long way to go in his recovery process, so expect Richie Grant to continue serving as Atlanta's top reserve safety for the foreseeable future.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Placed on IR
Rotowire
Hellams (ankle) was placed on injured reserve by the Falcons on Tuesday, Terrin Waack of the team's official website reports.
Hellams suffered an ankle injury against the Dolphins on Aug. 9, and he'll now be forced to miss at least Atlanta's first four games of the 2024 season as a result. The safety will be first eligible to return to action Oct. 3 versus the Buccaneers in Week 5.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: In concussion protocol
Rotowire
Hellams did not practice Wednesday and is in concussion protocol, Amna Subhan of the Falcons' official site reports.
According to coach Arthur Smith, Hellams began experiencing concussion symptoms following Sunday's loss to Chicago. He was able to play 72 percent of Atlanta's defensive snaps in that contest, tallying six tackles (all solo). If Hellams is unable to clear concussion protocol in time to suit up for Sunday's key Week 18 clash against the Saints, Richie Grant would likely slide back into a starting role.
