Falcons Sign E.J. Jenkins to Practice Squad, Release Jack Velling
The Atlanta Falcons made a developmental tight end swap Monday, signing E.J. Jenkins to the practice squad and releasing rookie Jack Velling from the unit. The move is official, but it does not immediately change Atlanta's active fantasy depth chart.
The NFL's Monday transaction roundup listed Jenkins' signing and Velling's release. Atlanta's current roster page also places Jenkins on the practice squad, not the 53-man roster.
What the Falcons are adding in E.J. Jenkins
Jenkins gives Atlanta a rare frame at the position. The Falcons list him at 6-foot-7 and 243 pounds, with two years of NFL experience. He spent the first part of the 2026 season with Philadelphia, appearing in six games and making two starts before the Eagles waived him on October 22.
Across the 2024-26 seasons, Jenkins has appeared in 16 regular-season games. His only career reception went for seven yards and a touchdown in 2024, so this is a traits-and-depth move rather than the addition of a proven receiving option.
Philadelphia's official transaction notice confirmed that Jenkins was waived from the active roster last Thursday. Clearing the roster process and landing in Atlanta gives him a chance to learn the Falcons' system without forcing an immediate change to the game-day lineup.
Why Atlanta moved on from Jack Velling
Velling joined Atlanta as an undrafted rookie after playing at Oregon State and Michigan State. The Falcons' player biography credits him with 177 receptions, 1,489 yards and 15 touchdowns in 47 college games, including 38 starts.
He made Atlanta's initial practice squad after roster cuts, but the team chose Jenkins' NFL experience and length for the current developmental spot. Releasing Velling does not necessarily end his NFL path; it makes him available to other clubs and leaves open the possibility of a later reunion if the roster changes again.
Falcons tight end depth chart and fantasy impact
Atlanta's active tight end group currently lists Kyle Pitts Sr., Nick Muse and Charlie Woerner. Jenkins joins the practice squad behind that group. That distinction matters for fantasy managers: a practice-squad signing does not automatically create snaps, targets or a game-day role.
Kyle Pitts remains the only Atlanta tight end who belongs in standard redraft lineups.
Jenkins is not a waiver-wire add in ordinary fantasy leagues.
Deep dynasty managers can place Jenkins on a watch list, but only an elevation or active-roster promotion would make him relevant.
The move is more meaningful for Atlanta's developmental depth and scout-team work than for Week 8 projections.
Practice-squad players can be elevated for game day, but fantasy managers should wait for a specific transaction and an injury-driven path to snaps. Until then, Jenkins' size is interesting; his role is speculative.
What to watch next
The first checkpoint is whether Atlanta elevates Jenkins for its next game. A second is whether he earns a core special-teams assignment, which is often the quickest route from the practice squad to the active roster for a reserve tight end.
For now, the clean takeaway is simple: Atlanta exchanged a rookie developmental prospect for a taller player with 16 games of NFL experience. The transaction improves flexibility at the bottom of the depth chart but does not alter fantasy start-sit decisions today.
Sources
NFL.com — Monday league news and transaction roundup
Atlanta Falcons — current roster and E.J. Jenkins player page
Atlanta Falcons — Jack Velling player biography
Philadelphia Eagles — October 22 roster transaction
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