Falcons vs. Chiefs Injury Report: James Pearce Jr. Questionable

The Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs head into Sunday’s matchup with several key players across both rosters listed as questionable or worse.

As teams finalized their practice schedules this Friday, the physical toll of the season has become increasingly apparent for both coaching staffs.

The Falcoholic reported that the Falcons have officially ruled out wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who continues to manage a lingering hamstring injury. Branch will sit out this week’s contest, effectively using the team’s upcoming bye week to focus on a full recovery.

Meanwhile, the status of linebacker Divine Deablo remains grim; he has been designated as doubtful with a forearm injury. In NFL parlance, a doubtful tag typically means a 95% probability that a player will be sidelined, leaving the Falcons to plan their defensive rotations without him.

The injury report for Atlanta is further complicated by the status of defensive end James Pearce Jr. He is currently listed as questionable while dealing with a back issue. The team is also monitoring linebacker Josh Woods, who is dealing with an ankle injury, and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr., who is currently sidelined by an illness. Both are officially questionable for Sunday.

Kansas City faces its own set of roster hurdles. The most notable development from Friday’s practice was the absence of running back Kenneth Walker, who did not participate due to groin tightness. This development comes as the Chiefs look to maintain offensive momentum against a Falcons squad that has been shuffling its own defensive personnel throughout the week.

Falcons vs. Chiefs Injury Report: James Pearce Jr. Questionable

The broader injury report for the Chiefs includes several players whose availability remains fluid. The list of those dealing with various ailments includes:

LB Kendal Daniels (Achilles)
DE Cam Thomas (groin)
LS Liam McCullough (personal)
CB Mansoor Delane (shoulder)
QB Justin Fields (neck)
S Jaden Hicks (shoulder)
TE Travis Kelce (ankle)
QB Patrick Mahomes (knee, right elbow)
WR Rashee Rice (knee)
WR Xavier Worthy (hamstring)
RB Jaydn Ott (hamstring)
DT Omarr Norman-Lott (knee)
OL Jaylon Moore (ankle)
DL Peter Woods (neck)

The depth of this list highlights the attrition inherent in the modern professional game. The team has already confirmed that Omarr Norman-Lott, Jaylon Moore, and Peter Woods are out for the game.

For fans and analysts, the primary question is how these absences will alter the tactical approach of both teams. When starters are limited or ruled out, the burden shifts to depth players who must adjust to increased snap counts on short notice.

This is particularly relevant for the Falcons, who are already adjusting to the absence of Branch at receiver and potentially missing key defensive contributors like Pearce Jr. and Deablo.

Teams that can effectively rotate personnel without a significant drop-off in performance often find themselves better positioned for the postseason.

While the Chiefs maintain a high-profile roster, the cumulative effect of injuries to key offensive weapons like Kelce, Mahomes, and Rice—all of whom have dealt with health issues this week—creates a challenge for offensive coordinator schemes. How backup players execute under these conditions will determine Sunday's outcome.

The final injury reports will be confirmed shortly before kickoff. Until then, coaching staffs will be forced to prepare multiple contingency plans to account for the potential absence of any player currently carrying an injury designation. The game will ultimately be determined by which team’s reserves can best bridge the gap left by their injured starters.