LOOK: Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell intercepts Panthers QB Andy Dalton
The Falcons had a tough time stopping Carolina’s passing attack for much of Sunday’s game, but cornerback A.J. Terrell overcame a poor start to intercept a pass thrown by Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter.
Terrell made a nice play on the ball to stop the Panthers just as they were in a position to tie the game. Atlanta is in position to win its third consecutive NFC South game, holding a 35-20 lead with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Watch Terrell’s interception below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account.
#Falcons CB A.J. Terrell on signing $81 million extension: “I don’t take none of it for granted — never did”
The Falcons have had some rough seasons on defense during their six-year playoff drought, but cornerback A.J. Terrell has been one of the few bright spots since the team drafted him in 2020. While Terrell has been a known commodity in Atlanta, the rest of the NFL often overlooks the former Clemson standout.
People said the Falcons reached on Terrell in the draft while others have criticized his lack of interceptions, he never seems to get the respect he deserves. However, the team changed that narrative by making Terrell the second-highest-paid cornerback in the NFL last week.
On Thursday, the Falcons signed the 25-year-old to a four-year, $81 million extension that keeps him in Atlanta through 2028. Just because Terrell got paid doesn’t mean he’s taking his new contract for granted.
“A lot of people don’t get this opportunity of being able to play at home and, you know, make a statement and be loved by the fans and things like that,” said Terrell. “So I don’t take none of it for granted — never did. When I go out there and play, it’s always for my family, the city and the team, so I’m excited to be here, man. It’s been a blessing for sure.”
Cornerbacks are usually given time to develop but Terrell was thrown into the fire as Atlanta’s replacement for Desmond Trufant. Since joining the team in 2020, Terrell has started 61 games, recording four interceptions and 43 passes defended.
Fans make a big deal about interceptions, but there’s been little reason to throw at Terrell over the last four seasons. When asked about his interception totals, Terrell said he tries not to pay much attention to it.
“The interceptions, they come just off of play how you know the schemes and things that’s drawn up. Just watching film of the X’s and O’s and just making plays when you’re there because once you’ve missed the [opportunity], most likely won’t get it back until it come again. So I try not to pay too much attention to it.”
A.J. Terrell, the former Clemson standout, is set for a substantial payday after agreeing to a major contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons have locked in Terrell with a four-year, $81 million deal. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the contract includes $65.8 million in guaranteed money, making Terrell one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in NFL history and setting a new record for guaranteed money on a four-year deal.
Currently in the final year of his rookie contract, Terrell will earn $12.344 million this season before the new deal takes effect, keeping him with the Falcons through 2028. Selected 16th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Terrell has been a critical component of Atlanta’s defense.
Last season, he recorded 45 tackles, including four for a loss, and defended 11 passes over 17 games. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound cornerback has consistently established himself as one of the league’s top cover defenders, playing an indispensable role in Atlanta’s secondary throughout his four-year NFL career.
Sources: The #Falcons and CB AJ Terrell agreed on a 4-year extension worth $81M with $65.8M effectively fully guaranteed — 2nd highest paid CB ever.
Congratulations are in order for A.J. Terrell. The Atlanta Falcons are paying their star cornerback $81 million on a new four-year deal, which includes more than $65 million in guarantees, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
And we’re choosing to celebrate this occasion by looking back at A.T. Perry’s 18-yard touchdown catch against Terrell in the 2023 regular season finale. This game-tying score is our pick for the New Orleans Saints Play of the Day, with the same number of days to go to the 2024 season kickoff as the number Perry wears on his jersey (17).
The Falcons jumped out with an early lead in this game, but Perry’s score on top of their best defender evened the odds. Then it became a rout. Perry scored again later as the Saints poured it on, and New Orleans eventually called it a day after going up 48-17. Atlanta has spent big this offseason to rebuild their credibility after that embarrassment, including this extension with Terrell. We’ll see if that results in more wins when the season starts in September.
The Falcons have signed CB A.J. Terrell to 4-year, $81 million extension, per report
The Atlanta Falcons locked up one of their best players on Thursday morning, signing cornerback A.J. Terrell to a four-year, $81 million extension with $65.8 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
The 25-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Clemson. While many criticized the Falcons for drafting Terrell at the time, he’s been one of their most consistent defensive players over the last four seasons. Terrell has started 61 games and recorded 43 passes defended, four interceptions and four forced fumbles.
Terrell’s contract has the largest guarantee ever for a cornerback on a four-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Sources: The #Falcons and CB AJ Terrell agreed on a 4-year extension worth $81M with $65.8M effectively fully guaranteed — 2nd highest paid CB ever.
The Falcons have solidified three of their four starting secondary spots over the last two offseasons. In 2023, the team signed safety Jessie Bates III to a four-year, $64 million deal. Then last week, the Falcons signed Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons to a one-year, $8 million contract and swung a trade for outside linebacker Matthew Judon.
With Terrell’s contract now locked up, the team has a clear identity on defense under head coach Raheem Morris. The Falcons offense should be much improved with quarterback Kirk Cousins leading the way and now the defense has playmakers at all three levels.
Atlanta has not been to the playoffs since 2017, but an NFC South title appears to be very much in play for this team in 2024.
In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys get deep into a new press coverage revolution in today’s NFL.
Over the last few seasons in the NFL, a lot of coaches and executives have tailored their defensive schemes in one specific fashion — an increase in press coverage from their cornerbacks. Not only the old-school aggressive press-man coverage we all know, but also mirror-match press man coverage, where a cornerback trails the receiver through his route as the route is declared.
Why? Because NFL offenses have found all kinds of ways to beat the old Seattle Cover-3 stuff from a decade ago with 3×1 and 2×2 receiver sets, and the route concepts inherent in those deployments. Now, if you’re rolling out that “Country Cover-3,” your defense is going to be in trouble.
There’s also the element of quick game in the league, which has increased in recent years. When the quarterback is throwing out of zero- to three-step drops, there are times when edge defenders simply don’t have time to get to the quarterback before the ball comes out. So, logic dictates that if you can’t disrupt the quarterback in the timing of the down, you need to disrupt the timing of the receivers’ routes, forcing the quarterback to delay his reads and throws, and giving those pass-rushers that extra split millisecond to get home.
In this week’s edition of “The Xs and Os,” Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group, investigate the NFL’s changes in press coverage, and the players who do it the best, including...
L’Jarius Sneed of the Titans;
A.J. Terrell of the Falcons;
Martin Emerson Jr. of the Browns;
Patrick Surtain Jr. of the Broncos;
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner of the Jets; and
Joey Porter Jr. of the Steelers.
You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell” right here:
You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to contend with one of the Atlanta Falcons’ most skilled defensive players on Sunday.
ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter reported Saturday that Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, who was listed on the Falcons’ injury report after going through concussion protocol, is out of that protocol and will play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Terrell suffered the concussion while making a tackle on running back Breece Hall against the New York Jets last week.
While Terrell has been a good corner in the NFL this year, ranked 25th of all CBs by PFF, he struggled in the team’s last matchup against the Bucs. He had a particularly bad time against Bucs wideout Mike Evans, who caught a touchdown pass over him on a deep bomb from quarterback Baker Mayfield near midfield. Mayfield and Evans will hope to get that connection going again when the team faces off Sunday with the NFC South on the line.
#Falcons CB A.J. Terrell has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and is expected to play on Sunday against the Buccaneers
The Atlanta Falcons are more banged up than usual heading into Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they received some good news regarding the status of cornerback A.J. Terrell.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Terrell has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and is expected to play this weekend. With three starters — Nate Landman, Kaleb McGary and David Onyemata — ruled out for Week 14, having Terrell is a big win for this Falcons team.
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play Sunday vs. the Buccaneers.
Jets running back Breece Hall was fined $43,709 for the hit on Terrell that led to the concussion, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
Here’s another angle on the play that led to the biggest fine of the week: a $43,709 tab for Breece Hall, who makes $61,931 a week on his rookie contract. The latest running back to pay a steep price. https://t.co/dYdlOctTKkpic.twitter.com/In3h2A8ute
Cornerback Jeff Okudah’s status is questionable, along with Mike Hughes and wide receiver Mack Hollins. Check out the team’s complete injury report and updated 53-man roster for Sunday’s game in Atlanta.
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith provided injury updates on Kaleb McGary, A.J. Terrell, Jeff Okudah and Nate Landman
The Atlanta Falcons escaped Sunday’s game against the New York Jets with a win, but a handful of players were injured in the process. Cornerback A.J. Terrell, offensive tackle Kaleb McGary, linebacker Nate Landman and Jeff Okudah each suffered injuries during Week 13.
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith provided team reporters with some updates on Monday. According to Smith, Terrell is in the concussion protocol and both McGary and Landman have knee injuries.
Falcons HC Arthur Smith said injuries to RT Kaleb McGary, LB Nate Landman and CB Jeff Okudah were not long-term.
Doesn't know whether they'll play this week against Tampa or not — they'll know more Wednesday & Thursday.
Smith said he didn’t know whether or not Okudah, Landman and McGary would be able to play this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that the team would know more about each injury on Wednesday.
Falcons CB A.J. Terrell is being evaluated for a head injury and is questionable to return vs. the Jets
In the first quarter of Sunday’s game, Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell suffered a head injury while making a third-down tackle. Terrell is being evaluated for a head injury and is questionable to return against the Jets, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.
A.J. Terrell walks off the field on his own. Takes his helmet off and goes straight to the medical tent. https://t.co/NfI7yaxZNz
Neither team has scored thus far in Week 13. Atlanta punted on the team’s opening drive and New York gave the ball right back to the Falcons. Check back for an update on Terrell’s status.
