Five veteran CBs Falcons could sign amid host of injuries

The Atlanta Falcons might have to look beyond Flowery Branch for help at cornerback. 

The team's bad day in Cincinnati Sunday against the Bengals offense was, in part, due to the injuries at cornerback. 

Right now, Atlanta won't have CB Casey Hayward for a while as he heals on injured reserve from a shoulder injury. Fellow CB A.J. Terrell left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury and is week-to-week. The team also had CB Dee Alford on the inactive list Sunday and lost CB Mike Ford for a stretch with an injury during the Bengals game. 

It leaves the Falcons with Ford (if he's healthy), second-year Darren Hall, Isaiah Oliver (who recently came off IR from a 2021 ACL tear), and practice squad candidates Cornell Armstrong and Dylan Mabin at corner. 

In short, the Falcons could use some help. Here are five intriguing options in free agency and on other practice squads who could help the team withstand what's ahead, especially if Terrell misses any time. 

A.J. Bouye

After spending some time as one of the premier corners in the NFL, Bouye struggled with injuries in brief stops with Denver and Carolina. When he's healthy, he provides veteran experience on the outside, which is where the Falcons could use him most. He's also only 31 and may have more football ahead. 

Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins 

Known for his feisty play and ball-hawking skills, Jenkins found himself a free agent after the Tennessee Titans cut him to open cap space this past spring. It's fair to wonder if Jenkins can be a starting corner at this point for a full season, but Pro Football Focus rated him with a respectable 65.4 grade in 2021. He should be a useful rotational guy for any team. 

Malcolm Butler 

The New England Patriots Super Bowl XLIX hero has retired and unretired lately, but he played for Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees in Tennessee and knows Atlanta's scheme. The Patriots cut him in August off of injured reserve after he unretired to rejoin his old team. If he's healthy, he'd fit right in with the Falcons' scheme. 

Chris Harris Jr. 

Harris Jr. has gone from being one of the league's elite corners to the New Orleans Saints practice squad. It happens as players age, but if the Falcons want to make a rival a bit weaker, they could sign Harris Jr. to their active roster away from the Saints. He should have some gas left in the tank.

Josh Norman 

Norman used to terrorize the Falcons in Carolina with the Panthers, but the once-superstar is a free agent after spending 2021 with the San Francisco 49ers. If Norman still wants to play at 34, the Falcons might not be a bad spot for him to push for the playoffs with the NFC South wide open.