Falcons Week 16 Injury Report: Thursday Edition

by Dave Choate on Dec 22, 2011 9:34 PM EST in Falcons News

The good news first: The Atlanta Falcons are probably getting Brent Grimes back. He was limited in practice today, but that's a great sign. As long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks, Grimes will be back to hopefully torment Drew Brees on Monday night.

Several other Falcons are nicked up but practicing. Turner sat this one out to nurse his groin injury, and the Falcons are probably just getting him rest. If that persists, he's going to need some help from Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling. Unfortunately for everyone, Snelling missed practice today with an undisclosed illness. Hopefully he'll be fine come Monday.

Now for more bad news. Stephen Nicholas did not practice and may miss another game. The Falcons are lucky to have Mike Peterson backing him up. Kelvin Hayden also missed practice and is no sure thing to suit up on Monday night. If he can't go, it'll be a combination of Dominique Franks and Chris Owens at the slot.

My best guess—to be confirmed on Monday—is that Hayden sits it out and Nicholas plays sparingly, with everyone else more or less good to go.

In Saints news, DT Sedrick Ellis, G Jahri Evans, RB Mark Ingram and LB Jonathan Vilma all missed practice. Those are key guys, so watch that list closely in the days ahead.

Reactions?

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hopefully all the Saints on the list can't play

and neither can Brees due to an unforseen Nyquil accdent.

But in all seriousness, it’s shaping up ok considering how deep into the season we are. We’re very, very lucky. Do we even have anyone on IR?

Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.

Follow me on Twitter! @HarrisonN17

by Turner_The_Burner on Dec 23, 2011 12:00 AM EST reply actions

Oh yeah....Ovie....whoops

Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.

Follow me on Twitter! @HarrisonN17

by Turner_The_Burner on Dec 23, 2011 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

Franks

is the future at the nickle IMO so the sooner he gets action against the Brees the better. I doubt Hayden is brought back unless he is real contract friendly. When you sign 1 yr deals you gotta be able to stay on the field to stick around after that. Coach did not bother to mention Owens he specifically stated they would be getting Franks ready if Hayden could not go. Owens has been move back on the depth chart behind Hayden and Franks.

by Kushion on Dec 23, 2011 1:47 AM EST reply actions

Pretty excited myself to see Franks out there...

I agree with you about him being the future…hes looked the part the last few weeks and this is prime time so I hope hes ready

by Bigru3 on Dec 23, 2011 4:33 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

up until that A. johnson reception in the texans game

but what can u say …… it was AJ!!!

Atlanta Superbowls

by Atlanta Superbowls on Dec 23, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

Every NFL corner gets beat

at some point and when you you’re locked in man coverage vs. AJ with no safety help well… That said, given Franks youth he has looked very impressive the last few weeks. I have not seen him blow an assignment or get burnt/torched during the time he has been starting. Even though he gave up the big catch to AJ he was in a position to make a play on the ball; which, is something Chris Owens never seems able to accomplish.

by BlackBirdBlitz on Dec 24, 2011 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

Owens has looked better recently.

"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.

by CaptJackSparrow on Dec 23, 2011 9:08 AM EST reply actions

At this point...

our list is not as serious as the Aint’s list…hope it stays that way.

I do (also) like that Franks is getting more playing time…hope he starts stepping up!!

I also agree with “Turner_The_Burner” that at this point, we have done a good job once again at minimizing the injury bug this year…but…I do miss OVIE. Come back 100% for 2012 Ovie…

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Dec 23, 2011 9:59 AM EST reply actions

Ugh, this thread is throwing me so much

At this point I’m basically on American time, in that I work crazy hours and have to sleep most days and work at night. Essentially the 12 hour difference is erased, as my day time is actually night time here, which is day time over yonder. Only thing is, we’re one day ahead of you at that point, so between distinguishing whether 12:01 counts as Saturday or Friday, and then figuring out what this Thursday injury report is referring to….gah, you Americans are doing my head in.

Be sure to check out this week's Best Case/Worst Case article here.

Follow me on Twitter! @HarrisonN17

by Turner_The_Burner on Dec 23, 2011 11:55 AM EST reply actions