Atlanta, Georgia: Falcons Rule Out Branch and Ebukam for Bengals Game in Madrid

The Atlanta Falcons started their week on Monday already knowing they will be short two players in Madrid. Head coach Kevin Stefanski ruled out wide receiver Zachariah Branch and defensive end Samson Ebukam for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Spain, one day after Atlanta's 16-0 loss at Tampa Bay dropped the Falcons to 3-5.

"Samson Ebukam, Zachariah Branch have hamstring injuries," Stefanski said to open his Monday press conference. "That's going to keep them out of this game. Not sure, long term, how many games those types of injuries will be, but we'll obviously treat those and then see how it goes over the next couple of weeks."

A hole in the pass rush

Ebukam is in his ninth NFL season and his first with Atlanta, after signing with the Falcons this past offseason and reuniting with defensive line coach Nate Ollie, who coached him in Indianapolis. He has been a regular part of the defensive line rotation all season. The Falcons said he has 2.5 sacks and 15 quarterback pressures this year, and Next Gen Stats ranks him fifth among Atlanta defenders in pressures. NBC Sports reported he has 11 tackles in seven appearances.

The Falcons Wire reported that Za'Darius Smith and Cameron Thomas are in line for bigger roles on the edge while Ebukam is out. Atlanta could also get help from James Pearce Jr., who is eligible to return this week after serving an eight-game suspension, according to ClutchPoints.

The return game loses its spark

Branch, a third-round pick in this year's NFL Draft, left Sunday's game at Tampa Bay early after returning a kickoff and did not come back. He has worked mostly as a complementary receiver, with 10 catches for 64 yards, but his bigger job has been on returns. The Falcons said Branch has returned eight punts for 83 yards and 14 kickoffs for 360 yards this season.

Without Branch, veteran receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is expected to take on more work on special teams, The Falcons Wire reported.

What comes next

Stefanski said he does not know whether either injury will keep the two players out beyond Sunday. The Athletic's Josh Kendall reported that Stefanski indicated the injuries could cost either player multiple games. The Falcons will release their first full injury report of the week on Wednesday, before the team travels to Madrid. Kickoff against the Bengals is set for 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.