Atlanta Falcons Week 14 Injury Report: The Friday Edition

by Dave Choate on Dec 9, 2011 5:17 PM EST in Falcons News

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 16: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons passes against the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome on October 16, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Good news, bad news time.

The good news is that the Falcons are mostly healthy. Julio Jones and Michael Turner are probable for the game and practiced fully on Friday, and both should have big games against a Panthers defense that's about as useless as eyeglasses on an earthworm. In fact, there's a long list of probables here on both sides of the ball, which is encouraging. This is the second-toughest game the Falcons have left on the slate, after all.

Now for the bad news. Brent Grimes it out, as we already knew, but Kelvin Hayden is also doubtful. That marks the second straight week where the Falcons will go without two of their top three cornerbacks. While Chris Owens and Dominique Franks can probably continue to approximate Hayden's value, they don't come close to touching Grimes. It'll be uphill against Cam Newton.

Stephen Nicholas is also doubtful. Thankfully, the Panthers are a running team first and foremost, and Mike Peterson still provides terrific value against the run. If Nicholas has to miss another game or two, it's a good thing it's against the Panthers and Jaguars.

Will Svitek is also questionable. If he can't go—and I suspect that may be the case—Sam Baker will make his return to the starting lineup. Where's your rejoicing, Falcons fans?

Check out the full injury report here. Then share your observations with us...well, here.

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Glad Hayden is now at least listed as doubtful

He’s been listed as out on gameday…for next weeks game the past few weeks. I’m glad we’re being cautious w/him, tho I guess we really had no choice. A dislocated toe doesn’t sound fun. We’re going to definetly need him for the stretch run. If we decide we want one.

by aces666high on Dec 9, 2011 6:15 PM EST reply actions

More stretch

stroll than run if they don’t pick it up.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Dec 9, 2011 6:17 PM EST up reply actions

how could he dislocate a toe anyway

he wasn’t barefoot, was he?

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Dec 10, 2011 3:20 AM EST up reply actions

I was wondering the same thing Gemini. All I know is that it was described as gruesome in the team reports

by aces666high on Dec 10, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

Tough game here

and with the way the team has played this season it’s also tough to get a read on it. As we all know divisional games are always tough. I suspect Carolina will throw a bit of everything against us including option. I expect to see a lot more of their TE this game. Weems is going to have to make a couple of plays for us. Grimes huge plays in divisional games will be missed.

I know the Falcons care about all of these games, after all it’s how they make their living. I do question the “we’ll get it fixed” attitude because we’re coming on the second consecutive season where the players themselves say “We haven’t put a complete game together yet” No kidding.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

by FrozenFinger on Dec 9, 2011 6:16 PM EST reply actions

Still PO'd about last wwwk

Let’s stomp these guys. I imagine that Hayden could be used in an emergency? I still don’t see how they can stop our running game, but we’re gonna need to come out of this healthy. We are backed into a corner. I hope we smack them good.

by kaminator on Dec 9, 2011 6:31 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I hope Turner is ok

last week he had a really bad game i wish we could have gotten Snelling or Quizz a few extra carries or catches

by Erihury on Dec 9, 2011 8:19 PM EST reply actions

Just FYI.. Our rookie starting DTs that got hurt is actually a blessing in disguise. Our new starting DTs are better than are starting ones. Put it this way, against Tampa Bay last week they held Blount to just 19 yards the whole game.

Just saying that Turner won’t have as good day as a lot of people might think.

by PantherTrain on Dec 9, 2011 8:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Slow your roll Panthertrain

the TB Bucs were one diminsional last week without their starting QB. It was pretty easy to know what they were going to do. Plus they aren’t one of the better rushing teams either. ATL has the ability to be a well balanced offense.

by Fear Me on Dec 10, 2011 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

I hope you are right, Fear Me

this point makes perfect sense, but we’ve struggled against bad rushing defenses in some games. Seattle was supposed to be dead last in defending the run, but a lot can be done on defense if the offense turns its predictability mode on.

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Dec 10, 2011 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder if Sam Baker will be the MVP of the game

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Dec 9, 2011 10:38 PM EST reply actions

Please

Dave, start a post on how TD is doing, I would love to hear what the group thinks.

Hopefully, there would be more than the blind adoration of “in TD we trust”, bunches of problems with his personnel decisions as we fade to the middle of the NFL pack.

by Whopper Dawg on Dec 10, 2011 1:46 AM EST reply actions