Linebacker Rashaan Evans was the odd man out in a series of transactions by the Atlanta Falcons in advance of Sunday’s NFL game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Falcons restored linebacker Nate Landman to their active roster. Landman started Atlanta’s season-opening game on Sept. 8, but he had spent the past four weeks on injured reserve with quadriceps and calf injuries.

Landman returns with Troy Andersen, who took his spot in the lineup, out with a knee injury.

To open a roster spot for Landman, the Falcons released cornerback Kevin King. Atlanta then re-signed King to its practice squad and elevated him to active status for Sunday’s game.

To make room for King on the practice squad, the Falcons released Evans.

Evans joined Atlanta’s practice squad on Oct. 1.

Evans had been out of the NFL since Dec. 27, 2023, when the Dallas Cowboys waived him to clear a roster spot for offensive tackle Matt Waletzko, who was returning from injured reserve after a shoulder injury.

Evans played in nine games for Dallas in 2023, getting on the field for 71 defensive snaps and 79 special-teams plays.

In 2022, Evans played 1,104 defensive snaps as he recorded 159 tackles for Atlanta. He became an unrestricted free agent when the league’s 2023 fiscal year started on March 15, and he remained unsigned until Sept. 12, 2023, when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad. But Evans spent only four days there before being released.

The Cowboys signed Evans for their practice squad on Oct. 12, 2023, two days after linebacker Leighton Vander Esch sustained a neck injury. After he played in three games as a practice-squad elevation, Evans joined the 53-player active roster on Nov. 18 with Vander Esch going on injured reserve.

A 2018 first-round draft pick off Alabama’s 2017 CFP national-championship team, Evans played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before signing with the Falcons in 2022.

Evans was the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A Lineman of the Year at Auburn High School in 2013 and a first-team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association at Alabama in 2017.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.