Falcons Injury Issues Intensify: More Players Sideline in…
Nobody wants to play the injury card, and I’m fairly certain a fully healthy Atlanta Falcons roster still would have lost that game, considering the final margin. But there’s no question that the persistent absence of Troy Andersen and the decimated cornerback corps played a role in just how bad things got Sunday against the Denver Broncos, and further injuries only contributed to the brutal beatdown our favorite team suffered.
On Sunday, the Falcons almost immediately lost Kevin King, their replacement nickel back with Dee Alford (and Antonio Hamilton) out. The team would use Natrone Brooks and Richie Grant in his stead, and while Brooks had his moments in coverage and Grant closer to the line of scrimmage, the team’s poor tackling, coverage, and angles to the ball showed just how deep they were digging into their depth in the secondary. They desperately need Hughes and Alford back after the bye.
From there, the hits just kept coming. The Falcons lost talented defensive lineman Zach Harrison, receiver Darnell Mooney, and late in the game, linebacker Nate Landman and rookie receiver Casey Washington. The game was well out of reach by the time most of them exited, but any injuries that linger beyond the bye week will impact Atlanta’s ability to contend. That’s especially true for Mooney, one of the team’s best weapons, and Landman, who was beginning to round into shape as a run defender.
We’ll see what updates we get over the next couple of weeks, but Atlanta’s slow motion implosion over the past two weeks can only be reversed if they both improve and get healthier.
