Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was activated from injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday.
The Falcons also announced they placed tackle Sam Baker on injured reserve and released linebacker Thomas Howard.
Weatherspoon was placed on the injured reserve with a designation to return after suffering a foot injury in the second game of the season against the St. Louis Rams on Sept. 15. He returned to practice last Thursday.
Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the first that Weatherspoon is eligible to play.
Baker won’t have the chance to return from his trip to the injured reserve. Baker landed there on Tuesday as a result of a knee injury and coach Mike Smith said he’ll have a procedure on the knee this week. Lamar Holmes will likely be the starting left tackle the rest of the way for Atlanta.
Howard played two games with them after signing as a free agent last month. The Falcons have one more roster spot open after Tuesday’s moves.
Baker was selected by the Falcons in the first round (21st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He started all three games in which he appeared this season, helping the offense register a season-high 479 yards of total offense against New England in Week 4. Baker has played in 70 career games with 61 starts in six seasons with the Falcons.
Howard was originally selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round (38th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas-El Paso. He was signed by the Falcons as a free agent on Oct. 22 and appeared in two games.