The Atlanta Falcons kicked off training camp not being the healthiest team in the NFL, but they're starting to get healthier as camp progresses. The Falcons activated DT Zach Harrison off the active/NFI list, but that's not all, as Jawaan Taylor was just activated off the active/PUP list too.
Taylor started the summer on active/PUP due to a lingering elbow injury that sidelined him for most of OTAs, which also plagued him at the end of 2025 with the Kansas City Chiefs. His return also means that Atlanta will have their entire starting offensive line fully healthy for the first time all summer.
It's not a major surprise, since Kevin Stefanski revealed that Taylor would be at practice today and activated "shortly", but doesn't make it any less exciting. This is the man the Falcons signed to replace Kaleb McGary at right tackle, and now we have competent protection on the blind side again.
The Atlanta Falcons have activated Jawaan Taylor off the active/PUP list
With Taylor sidelined, the Dirty Birds embarked on a mess of a right tackle competition to start training camp. Brandon Walton, Michael Jerrell, and seventh-round rookie Ethan Onianwa all took first-team reps at right tackle while he was out, but this competition is all but over now that he's back.
Stefanski revealed about a week ago that the 28-year-old was nearing a return and that his injury wasn't serious, so progressing to seeing him return at some point this week always felt possible. And he's now officially been cleared to practice, where he'll likely protect Tua Tagovailoa's blind side.
The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with Atlanta shortly after the McGary news dropped, and they looked past some red flags to bring him in. Considering the alternative when McGary got hurt last season was Elijah Wilkinson, it's hard to be mad about adding an established option like Taylor.
The 2020 second-round pick is officially back, which solves one major issue for the Falcons. However, they needed to release someone, so Atlanta released 2025 seventh-round pick Jack Nelson in a corresponding move, since it became clear he wasn't playing a role in this OL rotation.
The Falcons are banking on Taylor merely being better than Wilkinson, and that's a low bar. However, the 6-foot-5, 312-pound tackle is a perfect fit for Bill Callahan's scheme and should be at least adequate while stepping in as the starting right tackle this season.
And now that Jawaan Taylor has been activated off PUP and is cleared to practice, we'll see which version of him the Falcons signed: the Chiefs ot the Jags version.
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