A Sunday Illness Might Do What a Broken Arm Couldn't to Falcons LB Divine Deablo
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo has been downgraded to questionable with an illness just hours before Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
HotTakes Editorial Team1 min read
Finding live odds…

Divine Deablo once played an NFL defensive series with a literal broken forearm, but a Sunday morning stomach bug might actually be the thing that takes him down.
The Atlanta Falcons officially downgraded their starting linebacker to questionable with an illness just hours before their 5:00 p.m. kickoff against the Carolina Panthers, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.
"ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported: 'LB Divine Deablo has been downgraded to questionable today due to illness, per the #Falcons.'"
It is objectively hilarious that a guy who treats 300-pound linemen like minor traffic cones and ignores bone fractures is currently losing a battle to whatever he ate for dinner on Saturday night. That is the ultimate equalizer in professional sports.
Deablo is the absolute engine of this Atlanta defense. The converted safety flies around the field, racking up 73 combined tackles and a sack last season before that aforementioned forearm fracture sent him to injured reserve.
If you are holding a Panthers rushing prop today, this is exactly the kind of late-breaking news you want to see. Without Deablo's sideline-to-sideline speed, Atlanta's run defense gets noticeably softer in the middle of the field.
Keep an eye on the final inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff. If Deablo cannot go, expect second-year linebacker JD Bertrand to see a massive spike in snaps while the starter fights for his life in the locker room bathroom.
Key stats
Deablo recorded 73 combined tackles (38 solo, 35 assists) and 1 sack during the 2025 regular season.
Deablo previously played through a fractured forearm during a 2025 game before being placed on injured reserve.
What's next
Deablo's official status will be confirmed when the Falcons release their final inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff.

Key stats



