Linebacker Rashaan Evans found himself without a spot in a series of roster moves made by the Atlanta Falcons ahead of their game against the Carolina Panthers.
The Falcons activated linebacker Nate Landman, who had missed the last four weeks due to quadriceps and calf injuries after starting the season opener on Sept. 8. Landman is returning to action with Troy Andersen, who had replaced him, now sidelined with a knee injury.
To make space for Landman, the Falcons released cornerback Kevin King, but quickly brought King back by signing him to the practice squad and elevating him to the active roster for Sunday’s game.
In turn, Evans was released from the practice squad to make room for King. Evans had joined Atlanta’s practice squad on Oct. 1, after being out of the NFL since Dec. 27, 2023, when the Dallas Cowboys waived him to activate offensive tackle Matt Waletzko from injured reserve.
Evans appeared in nine games for Dallas in 2023, logging 71 defensive snaps and 79 on special teams. In 2022, Evans played a pivotal role for the Falcons, registering 159 tackles over 1,104 defensive snaps. After becoming a free agent in March 2023, he briefly joined the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before being released four days later.
The Cowboys later signed Evans in October 2023 after linebacker Leighton Vander Esch suffered a neck injury. Evans was promoted to the active roster in November after playing in three games as a practice-squad elevation.
A former first-round pick from Alabama’s 2017 national championship team, Evans played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before his stint with Atlanta in 2022. He had an accomplished high school and college career, being named Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A Lineman of the Year in 2013 and earning first-team All-American honors in 2017.