The Green Bay Packers might be dealing with their own injury issues, but they won’t get any pity from Dan Quinn and the Atlanta Falcons.
The winless Falcons were without seven starters during Thursday’s practice, the first in preparation of playing the Packers on Monday night.
Quinn’s team just can’t catch a break. After blowing a big second-half lead for the second straight week to fall to 0-3, the Falcons went through Thursday’s practice without safety Ricardo Allen, receiver Calvin Ridley, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, defensive end Takkarist McKinley, defensive end Dante Fowler, safety Keanu Neal and kicker Younghoe Koo.
Receiver Julio Jones, who missed last week, was limited. So was receiver Russell Gage, who is going through concussion protocol. Overall, the Falcons have 15 players on the first injury report of Week 4, and it’s littered with important players.
Ridley is the team’s leading receiver and one of the game’s best young receivers. Jarrett is the Packers’ version of Kenny Clark, a dominant interior presence. McKinely and Fowler are the team’s two best edge rushers. Allen and Neal are the starting safety combination. Koo has been the team’s kicker since the middle of last season.
The Falcons are touchdown underdogs on the road against the Packers this week, and having a bunch of key players out or injured won’t help their upset chances.
The Packers didn’t have receiver Allen Lazard, linebacker Christian Kirksey, tight end Josiah Deguara and tight end Marcedes Lewis during Thursday’s practice. Receiver Davante Adams and defensive tackle Kenny Clark were both limited.
The two teams will practice Friday and Saturday and release official injury designations for Monday night’s game on Saturday afternoon.
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