The Atlanta Falcons have signed cornerback C.J. Henderson, the team announced Thursday. To make room on the roster, defensive lineman Tyrone Wheatley Jr. was waived/injured.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report that the Falcons intended to sign Henderson pending a medical review.
Henderson entered the NFL as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars after playing college football at the University of Florida. In his rookie year, he started eight games for Jacksonville, recording 36 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and six pass breakups before being placed on injured reserve with a groin injury in Week 11.
On September 27, 2021, Jacksonville traded Henderson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for tight end Dan Arnold. That season he appeared in two games for Jacksonville and ten more for Carolina, starting seven games between both teams.
Henderson remained with Carolina through the 2023 season. His only full campaign came in 2022 when he played all 17 games—starting ten—and registered 58 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups, and also forced and recovered a fumble.
In 2024 Henderson joined the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not appear in any games due to a neck injury that led to him being placed on injured reserve in Week 11.
Over four seasons in the league, Henderson has played in 49 out of a possible 67 regular-season contests and started 21 times. He has accumulated 172 tackles—an average of about 43 per season—along with three interceptions and sixteen pass breakups.
The Falcons return their primary starting cornerbacks from last year: AJ Terrell Jr. and Mike Hughes. The latest unofficial depth chart lists Lamar Jackson and Clark Phillips III as backups at outside cornerback positions. Dee Alford is expected to start at nickel cornerback with Billy Bowman Jr. backing him up.
Atlanta’s next preseason game will be against the Tennessee Titans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
