Falcons list Za’Darius Smith and Jake Matthews as questionable for Sunday night vs. Ravens

The Atlanta Falcons’ status list for Sunday night’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens included two notable names as the team held its final practice of the week on Friday in FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Za’Darius Smith, a key defensive piece for Atlanta, and Jake Matthews, the team’s veteran offensive line leader, were both listed as questionable for the game, according to the Falcons’ official injury report released ahead of kickoff.

Friday’s session set the tone for the week, with Atlanta using its last full practice as a final checkpoint for players who missed time or were working through limitations. Injury designations do not guarantee availability, but they often indicate that a player’s participation will be determined closer to kickoff after additional testing and warm-up evaluations.

Smith’s questionable tag adds a specific layer of concern for Atlanta’s pass rush. As a starter on defense, Smith’s ability to generate pressure affects both first-and-second down plans and the way opponents can adjust protection schemes. If he is unable to go, Atlanta would likely need to lean on rotational personnel and other starters to absorb snaps in the front’s pressure packages.

On the offensive side, Matthews being listed as questionable places additional attention on Atlanta’s protection structure. As the Falcons’ offensive line anchor, his participation matters for how the team can sustain drives, especially early in the game when both teams are still identifying matchups. If he sits, Atlanta would have to reshuffle blocking assignments and account for the timing and footwork requirements that come with adjusting the left-side protection responsibilities.

The Falcons’ injury report also listed two other defensive starters as questionable, meaning the team is not dealing with a single isolated issue on that side of the ball. That broader defensive uncertainty can change practice emphasis during the final day, and it can influence how coordinator decision-making is approached across down-and-distance situations.

Even with multiple question marks, the Falcons’ preparation for a Sunday night opponent remains grounded in what Atlanta can confirm through pregame availability. The NFL’s weekly status process typically makes late changes possible, particularly for players listed as questionable, and the Falcons will have their final look at the group during the normal pregame routine.

For Baltimore, the situation presents a moving target for game plan construction. A defense or offense entering a matchup with multiple starters at risk must balance its scheming between what it expects if players suit up and the adjustments it can make if they do not. That is especially true on a national-spotlight night, when both coaching staffs are tuned for early-game momentum.

What to watch next is straightforward: whether Smith and Matthews are cleared, and which of the additional defensive starters ultimately become available. The answers will likely determine how Atlanta distributes its most important snaps on both lines, and they will shape the early tempo of the contest as each team tests the other’s adjustments.