Tag: Matt Ryan

Falcons Week 11 injury report: Matt Ryan returns to practice Thursday

Both Devonta Freeman and Austin Hooper are likely to miss this weekend’s matchup with the Panthers at the very least. The team got some good news though, as quarterback Matt Ryan returned to the practice field on Thursday.

The Falcons ended their six-game losing streak in Week 10, but lost two offensive starters in the process.

Both Devonta Freeman and Austin Hooper are likely to miss this weekend’s matchup with the Panthers at the very least. The team got some good news though, as quarterback Matt Ryan returned to the practice field on Thursday.

Ryan was absent on Wednesday, but that was likely a precautionary measure while he recovers from an ankle injury. Check out Atlanta’s complete injury report from Thursday’s practice below.

Player Injury Wed. Thur. Fri.
QB Matt Ryan Ankle DNP LP
RB Devonta Freeman Foot DNP DNP
TE Austin Hooper Knee DNP DNP
G Wes Schweitzer Head DNP LP
S Kemal Ishmael Head DNP DNP
TE Luke Stocker Knee LP FP
DE John Cominsky Ankle LP LP
S Sharrod Neasman Hamstring LP FP
CB Desmond Trufant Toe LP LP
P Ryan Allen Ankle LP LP
DB Damontae Kazee Shoulder FP FP

Check back after Friday’s practice for more Falcons injury updates.

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Behind Enemy Lines: How did the Falcons get here?

To learn more about what’s going on, we spoke with Matt Urben, managing editor of Falcons Wire.

The Panthers have not had much success against the Falcons in recent years, losing six of the last seven matchups. However, Atlanta has fallen on hard times this season and is already out of the playoff race.

To learn more about what’s going on, we spoke with Matt Urben, managing editor of Falcons Wire.

Panthers Wire: The Falcons come into this week at 2-7. What went wrong to get them in this spot?

Falcons Wire: The Falcons were supposed to be an offensive juggernaut and outscore people. Not only has the offense underachieved, the defense has played significantly worse than anyone anticipated. Injuries have hurt, but the team hadn’t played a complete game until last week’s win over the Saints.

PW: Atlanta held New Orleans to just nine points last week. Can you explain what changes they made on defense with the coaching staff?

FW: Head coach Dan Quinn relinquished defensive play-calling duties to linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich and former wide receivers coach Raheem Morris. Ulbrich now calls plays on first and second downs, while Morris calls the plays on third downs and in two-minute situations. It wasn’t much of a schematic shift, but there clearly was better communication and the players were where they were supposed to be. This resulted in the Falcons harassing Saints QB Drew Brees for most of the day. The team nearly doubled its season sack total in Week 10.

PW: How much are the Falcons going to miss Austin Hooper and Devonta Freeman? Who needs to step up?

FW: Hooper leads all tight ends in receptions, so he is certainly a big loss. Meanwhile, Freeman has yet to get going this season as the team has been at or near the bottom and rushing yards per game all season. Still, with Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones and Matt Ryan the Falcons should be OK.

PW: What grade would you give Matt Ryan for his season so far?

FW: I would give Ryan a solid B. He hasn’t been great, especially for the first few games when the Falcons got into early deficits. He has been near the top of the league in passing yards per game and touchdown passes, though, showing he really hasn’t been the problem. Ryan needs to cut down on the turnovers, but he is not the reason his team is 2-7.

PW: The Panthers are 5.5-point favorites. What do the Falcons need to do to get an upset?

FW: The only way the Falcons have a chance is if their defense comes out as engaged as it was last week and doesn’t let off the gas. The team will have some trouble slowing down Christian McCaffrey, but if Atlanta can contain Kyle Allen, it has a shot to pull off the upset. The Falcons can’t risk falling behind and becoming too one-dimensional, as they have been all season.

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Dan Quinn says Falcons will be present at Colin Kaepernick’s workout

The Falcons aren’t in the market for a quarterback, but they will apparently have some team representatives in attendance for free agent Colin Kaepernick’s private workout, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Atlanta.

The Falcons aren’t in the market for a quarterback, but they will apparently have some team representatives in attendance for free agent Colin Kaepernick’s private workout, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Atlanta.

Head coach Dan Quinn was asked about Kaeprnick’s workout, and although he didn’t make it sound as if Atlanta was interested, he did say the team would have someone there.

Watch Quinn’s response, as tweeted out by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure below:

The Falcons were one of the few teams to publicly support their players’ right to peacefully protest during the controversial national anthem issue a few years ago.

So while Atlanta more than likely has zero interest in signing Kaepernick, they haven’t publicly condemned the former 49ers QB the way many other NFL franchises have.

Whether or not this played a role in the decision to hold the workout in Atlanta remains to be seen. It wasn’t even clear initially if the NFL or Kaepernick himself had organized the workout.

Regardless of what happens on Saturday, Matt Schaub is firmly entrenched as Matt Ryan’s backup — especially after his 460-yard performance against the Seahawks in Week 8.

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Falcons OC credits Matt Ryan’s toughness, no-huddle ability

The Falcons offense played well in Sunday’s win, even if the team’s breakout defensive performance stole the show.

The Falcons offense played well in Sunday’s win, even if the team’s breakout defensive performance stole the show.

Quarterback Matt Ryan, who still isn’t 100 percent due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Rams, helped keep the Saints offense off the field. He executed well in no-huddle situations, and made a couple of uncharacteristic scrambles when the team needed it.

Ryan may have been fighting through injury for a 1-7 football team, but he put it all on the line in New Orleans on Sunday.

Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter praised Ryan and said the former MVP QB doesn’t get enough credit for his toughness.

Atlanta came out with more aggression on offense, mixing things up and keeping a really talented New Orleans defense on its heels for most of the game.

As for his quarterback’s scrambling ability, Koetter thought the reported 17 MPH which Ryan was clocked at during one of his runs was a typo:

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