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Top Kemal Ishmael News
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Set to become free agent
Ishmael is not expected to be re-signed by the Falcons, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 28-year-old has spent all seven of his NFL seasons as a member of the Falcons, initially joining the club as a seventh-round draft choice in 2013. Ishmael contributed primarily on special teams during the latter half of his run in Atlanta, but during 2014 he racked up a career-high 97 tackles, six pass deflections and four interceptions while making 10 starts on defense. This past season he made 14 appearances and started three games, while picking up 44 tackles and one forced fumble. Whatever team elects to sign him will be adding a versatile veteran to the roster, as Ishmael fielded substantial playing time at both safety and linebacker during his time in Atlanta.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Makes 14 appearances
Ishmael picked up 41 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble across 14 appearances (including three starts) for the Falcons in 2019.
The 28-year-old Ishmael has been a stalwart on Atlanta's game-day roster over the past six campaigns, averaging 15.2 appearances per season between 2014 and 2019. He saw an uptick in defensive involvement after Keanu Neal (Achilles) suffered a season-ending injury Sept. 22, fielding at least 37 snaps for Atlanta's defense in every game between Weeks 3 and 7. Ishmael averaged just 5.9 defensive snaps per game Weeks 8 through 17, but he remained one of the Falcons' more integral special-teams pieces during that span, garnering at least 63 percent of the special-teams playing time over his final six appearances of the year. The veteran now becomes an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2020 offseason.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Not on injury report
Ishmael (concussion) is not listed on the Falcons' injury report for Tuesday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
All signs are pointing to Ishmael's availability for Thursday's game against the Saints. Assuming he continues symptom-free, he should provide depth in Atlanta's secondary.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Estimated as full participant
Ishmael (concussion) was listed as a full participant on Monday's estimated injury report, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Ishmael missed the last two games with the concussion but may be able to return for Thursday's matchup with New Orleans. However, the Falcons didn't actually practice Monday and the 28-year-old hasn't officially cleared the concussion protocol, so there's a chance he could miss another contest.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Won't face Bucs
Ishmael (concussion) is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Ishmael will miss a second consecutive game while tending to a head injury. He plays a valuable rotational role in Atlanta's defense, providing depth at both safety and linebacker. Before retaking the field, Ishmael will need to fully clear the league's five-step concussion protocol.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Held out Wednesday
Ishmael (concussion) did not participate during Wednesday's practice session, Jason Butt of The Athletic reports.
A valuable rotational piece capable of lining up at both linebacker and safety, Ishmael missed his first game of 2019 when he sat out Atlanta's Week 11 matchup against the Panthers. He sustained a concussion during the Week 10 upset of the Saints, but, prior to that outing, he had fielded 30-plus percent of the Falcons' defensive snaps in each of the preceding six games. In order to suit up for a crucial Week 12 game against the Buccaneers, Ishmael first will have to clear the concussion protocol.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Out Week 12
Ishmael (concussion) was ruled out for Sunday's game at Carolina, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Ishmael suffered the concussion on kickoff coverage during last week's win over the Saints and was unable to practice this week. The 28-year-old will remain sidelined until he fully clears the concussion protocol. The potential return of CB Desmond Trufant (toe) looms large for Atlanta's injury-plagued secondary.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Misses Wednesday's session
Ishmael (concussion) did not participate during practice Wednesday, Jason Butt of The Athletic reports.
Ishmael sustained the concussion while running downfield on kickoff coverage late in the fourth quarter of Atlanta's Week 10 win against New Orleans, and popped up on the injury report to kick off the week of preparation for Carolina. Coach Dan Quinn has not yet spelled out Ishmael's expected recovery timeline, but he will have to pass the league's concussion protocol before returning to game action. Whether that comes in Week 11 remains up in the air, as Atlanta's defense prepares to take on a Kyle Allen-led Panthers offense that has been contained to 16 or fewer points over two of its past three games.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Nine stops versus Titans
Ishmael made nine tackles (one solo) in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Titans.
The Falcons struggled against Marcus Mariota, allowing him to throw for 227 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Nevertheless, Ishmael ended the contest with a decent stat line in his first start of the season in place of Keanu Neal (Achilles). There may be growing pains as Ishmael adjusts, but it appears he's filling in decently for now.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Taking over at strong safety
Ishmael is expected to start at strong safety with Keanu Neal (Achilles) out for the season, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Although the Falcons will likely look to free agency for additional depth or a possible starter, Ishmael looks set to start in Week 4's game versus the Titans. The 28-year-old made six solo tackles after Neal exited this past Sunday's game versus the Colts. His starting experience is limited, but he may have decent IDP value for the time being.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Getting ample reps at safety
Ishmael is expected to field the majority of his practice snaps at safety following Monday's season-ending injury to J.J. Wilcox (knee-ACL), D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Falcons are surveying contingency plans by providing Ishmael with substantial reps at safety, a position he has familiarity with after playing four collegiate seasons as a defensive back, and being selected as Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year (2012) during his time at Central Florida. Ishmael began his career with Atlanta as a safety and worked his way up to being a 10-game starter at the position in 2014, but the majority of his defensive snaps over the past two years have come at linebacker. The coaching staff seems excited about sliding Damontae Kazee to nickelback and maintaining him in a prominent role, rather than him being exclusively a backup safety with Keanu Neal (ACL) and Ricardo Allen (Achilles) returning from injury. Therein lies the motivation to both see what Ishmael can still do at the position and to sharpen his skills so that Kazee is not the only reliable backup option.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Re-ups with Atlanta
Ishmael re-signed with the Falcons on Wednesday on a one-year contract, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Ishmael returns to Atlanta on a one-year deal for the third consecutive offseason. He was rarely needed on defense in 2018, but the 2013 seventh-round pick was a solid contributor on special teams and should serve the Falcons well in that capacity again in 2019.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Key special teams contributor
Ishmael recorded 21 tackles, one pass deflection and one recovered fumble for the Falcons this season.
The veteran Ishmael saw a significant drop-off in his defensive involvement in 2018, failing to record a start for the first time since his rookie season, and fielding just 63 defensive snaps compared to 115 in 2017. He was, however, a crucial component to Atlanta's improvement in kick coverage, playing 74.6 percent of the special teams snaps for a Falcons unit that improved from 32nd in yards allowed per kick return last year to 17th in 2018.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Returning to Atlanta
Ishmael re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract Wednesday, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports.
Ishmael, who has spent his entire five-year career with the Falcons, is a versatile member of the Atlanta secondary and should continue to serve as a special-teams ace and depth safety. The 2013 seventh-round pick accrued 29 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup in 16 games during the 2017 campaign.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Quiet in 2017
Ishmael recorded 29 tackles (15 solo), one sack, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery across 16 games in 2017.
Ishmael saw a dropoff in defensive snaps last season, going from 310 in 2016 to 114 this past year. He now hits the market as an unrestricted free agent, and due to his lack of play time last season, it seems likely the safety could be calling somewhere else home next season.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Notches first sack of season
Ishmael posted four tackles (two solo) and one sack Monday against the Seahawks.
Ishmael was sent on the safety blitz Monday and succeeded. However, he only played nine defensive snaps as the Falcons' No. 3 safety, and he has only accrued dougle-digit defensive snaps once this season.
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Falcons' Kemal Ishmael: Breaks out in loss
Ishmael tallied nine tackles (seven solo) in Sunday's loss to the Patriots.
Ishmael had recorded just two tackles (one solo) across five games before Sunday's impressive showing. He was on the field for just 28 snaps (38.0 percent) so he certainly made the most of his opportunities. He could be in line for more snaps in future weeks with Duke Riley (knee) facing an uncertain return timetable.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-0, 206 lbs |
| Birthplace: Miami, FL, USA |
| Age: 32 |
| School: UCF |
| Experience: 8 |