Bowman (Achilles) expected back for training camp

Like teammate Divine Deablo, Bowman returned to the practice field Thursday with a limited showing after missing the Week 7 win over the 49ers. The team gives him the questionable designation for Week 8 against the Buccaneers, keeping the door open for a return following one missed game. We’ll gain further clarity when the team released inactives 90-minutes prior to first kick on Sunday.

Both players missed the team’s Week 7 win over the 49ers before starting Week 8 preparations with absences. A return to the practice field Thursday keeps the possibility of returns open ahead of a matchup against the Buccaneers.

Deablo suffered a forearm injury in Week 6 and opens Week 7 not practicing. Also not practicing was CB Billy Bowman (hamstring). Both will need to practice in some capacity to play in Week 7 against the 49ers.

Head coach Raheem Morris said last week of Bowman’s injury that it was “not good.” He was right. The fourth-round rookie who has played on 300 snaps for the defense this season now sees his rookie campaign come to an end thanks to the devastating injury. Bowman played 232 of his snaps from the slot this season and earned a PFF coverage grade of 52.8.

It was “not good” in Morris’ words, which probably means this is a season-ending injury. For any normal team, this would be a devastating blow. For the Falcons, it is business as usual on a Friday. Bowman had a 52.8 PFF coverage grade over 300 snaps in his rookie season while mostly playing nickel corner.

Penix practiced in the days leading up to Week 8’s game against the Dolphins but was ultimately ruled out in favor of Kirk Cousins. The second-year quarterback is one of several Falcons players who are day-to-day to start the week, as Morris also said S Jessie Bates (ankle), DL Zach Harrison (knee), CB Billy Bowman (hamstring), and EDGE Jalon Walker (groin) would also be day-to-day to open the week. Penix appears to be trending in the right direction but if he’s unable to go, Cousins would again draw the start on the road against the Patriots.

Falcons rookie slot DB Billy Bowman Jr. (hamstring) and LB Divine Deablo (forearm) have also been ruled out. None of the three practiced this week. On the plus side, LT Jake Matthews (ankle) will play. The defensive injuries soften up the Falcons’ interior, which benefits Dolphins RB De’Von Achane.

Falcons rookie DB Billy Bowman Jr. (hamstring) will also be out this week. Losing two standout rookies for a bout with the 49ers’ efficient passing attack is unfortunate, but the Falcons’ defense as a whole has played well this year. Walker has totaled nine tackles, eight quarterback pressures and one sack. Bowman boasts 13 tackles, one pass breakup and one interception.

A four-year starter and defensive spark plug at Oklahoma, Bowman Jr. brings dynamic ball production and plus instincts to the 2025 safety class. A twitchy, versatile field safety in Zac Alley’s 4-2-5 scheme, Bowman logged snaps all over the back end—box, nickel, and deep—and racked up 11 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. His 2023 campaign (6 INTs, 63 tackles) landed him first-team All-Big 12 honors and showcased his elite reaction skills and nose for the football. Bowman tested well athletically (4.42 forty, 35.5-inch vert), but his size (5’10”, 192 lbs, 28.5-inch arms) is a limiting factor. He diagnoses quickly and plays fast, but his lack of play strength shows when tackling bigger targets or disengaging from blocks. He’s more of a drag-down finisher than a thumper, and his open-field tackling has been inconsistent throughout his career. Still, Bowman’s blend of football IQ, fluid hips, and versatility is rare. He can cover the slot, rotate post-snap, or disguise coverage from two-high shells. Though he may never be a box enforcer, he brings disruptive, turnover-hungry energy to the backend. He’s an immediate contributor on special teams and sub-packages, with starting upside in a split-safety system.

Bowman (5'10/170) pledged to Texas over fellow finalist Alabama. While schools often recruit two-way athletes specifically to one side of the ball or the other, Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman hears that Longhorns HC Tom Herman and staff are flexible as to how they will utilize the Denton, Texas, native. He profiles as either a slot wideout or a defensive back, with special teams upside either way. Spiegelman writes that Bowman is a “special athlete with fantastic vision and instincts,” noting that he possesses 4.47-second wheels in the 40-yard dash and is “always a threat to return it to the house.” Rivals ranks Bowman as the No. 88 overall prospect in the 2021 class.