The athletic linebacker continues to deal with injuries, which have unfortunately derailed a promising career.
The Atlanta Falcons signed Divine Deablo to a deal that certainly implied he would get a real shot to start, which raised a few eyebrows given the presence of Troy Andersen. The Falcons both clearly liked Deablo and had concerns that the oft-injured Andersen would be able to take on and remain healthy for a starting role, and unfortunately those concerns are rooted in reality.
On Thursday, Raheem Morris said in his first press conference of training camp that the team would be placing Andersen on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which means he’ll be unavailable for training camp practices and preseason games for an indeterminate amount of time. Once Andersen is off the list he can return to practice right away, but he can’t return to PUP once he’s declared healthy, and he will have to miss the first four games of the 2025 season if he’s on the reserve/PUP list when roster cutdowns roll around.
Troy Andersen has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP), according to Raheem Morris.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) July 24, 2025
It’s worth noting that Morris was upbeat about Andersen, saying he’s progressing well and looking good, but there’s a lot of uncertainty with the PUP designation that makes it impossible for us to know what the linebacker’s timeline will be. If it’s a week or two away, Andersen may still be able to wedge himself into the competition for a starting job, but a longer absence will almost certainly take him out of the running for the job with the season just about a month and a half away from starting. If that’s the case, Deablo will be counted on to start next to Kaden Elliss to begin the season. Jalon Walker and JD Bertrand are also expected to be in the mix for playing time at inside linebacker, hopefully allowing the Falcons to weather the time Andersen will miss.
Andersen, who is entering his age 26 season, has appeared in just 26 games in his three-year NFL career. After appearing in 17 games largely as a reserve and special teamer in his rookie season, Andersen has played just nine games since owing to injury, with promising moments like last year’s efforts against the Chiefs and Saints inevitably giving way to season-wrecking ailments. Andersen is the team’s most proven and capable inside linebacker in coverage and a player with the athletic ability to make game-changing plays, but availability is an ability of its own and the Falcons unfortunately have not been able to count on having him on the field.
The hope is that Andersen will be ready to go soon, able to compete for a starting job, and ready to make a 2025 impact either as a starter or a valuable reserve. It would be a major boon for player and team if he’s healthy for the crucial season ahead, so we’ll cross our fingers and see what comes next.