On the first day of Falcons training camp, there were a number of intriguing storylines, but none more so than Darnell Mooney, who left practice early after diving for a pass. He walked off the field with a trainer and did not return.
To this point, there has been no more information regarding the severity of the injury, but the Falcons’ latest transaction might be a sign that Mooney could miss some time. According to Ian Rapoport, the Falcons have inked DJ Chark to a one-year deal.
Veteran FA WR DJ Chark, who spent last year with the #Chargers, is signing with the #Falcons, per me and @MikeGarafolo. He gets a 1-year deal.
The former #Jaguars, #Panthers and #Chargers veteran lands in ATL after several visits. pic.twitter.com/wGKFmJSbGW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2025
DJ Chark will be 29 years old this season and is entering his eighth year in the league. His best season came back in 2019 when he caught 78 balls for over 1,000 yards en route to the Pro Bowl. It was just his second year in the league, and high hopes followed that campaign, but Chark has not been able to replicate those numbers since.
In his last two healthy seasons (2022-2023), Chark has totaled 1,027 yards and eight touchdowns in 26 games. Last year, he appeared in just seven games for the Chargers after spending over half of the season on the IR with a hip injury.
When healthy, DJ Chark is a legitimate receiving threat capable of being a WR3 or WR4. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, but the timing, at the very least, seems fishy. Everyone is now anxiously awaiting the next update from the Falcons on Darnell Mooney.
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Photo: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
