Falcons QB Matt Ryan uncertain for Seahawks game with ankle sprain

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan took a beating yesterday, and Aaron Donald landing on him late in the fourth quarter didn’t help Ryan’s cause.

Ryan was knocked out of the game and was seen wearing a supportive boot after the game, which was disconcerting in and of itself. He underwent an MRI today and it’s fair to wonder whether the news wasn’t great.

The team confirmed an ankle sprain and that Ryan’s status is uncertain for Sunday.

Everything beyond that is speculation, but there is additional reporting out there if you’re inclined to listen to the source.

Per the AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter, we should go ahead and expect Ryan to miss 1-2 weeks. D-Led is basing this conclusion on an armchair diagnosis by the “Pro Football Doc” Dr. David J. Chao, so it’s good to take all this with a grain of salt. Here’s Chao’s take (hat tip to the AJC for the quote):

“He’s got a high ankle sprain,” Chao told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. “That’s what I’ve been tweeting and putting on the website. He’s got a high ankle sprain. The way Aaron Donald was tackling him, it wasn’t like he was trying to hurt him. He was trying to bring him down and pinned his ankle as it happened.”

Chao has accurately predicted the nature of a lot of professional sports injuries before teams announced specifics to the public. He’s also a former Chargers team doctor. So, in theory, the credentials are there to make this kind of educated guess. That said, Chao has a bit of a checkered past and he didn’t personally examine Ryan.

Matt Schaub didn’t embarrass himself yesterday and will fill in for Ryan during any absence, if there is one. It’s worth noting that Ryan hasn’t missed a game since 2009. (He actually missed 2 games that season with turf toe.)

Your thoughts, Falcoholics?