Falcons HC shares injury update on key players
The Atlanta Falcons are just a few days away from their Week 1 matchup against the Carolina Panthers and they could have most of their key pieces ready to go. Head coach Arthur Smith provided a general update of those on the active roster who are currently battling injuries, including cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Jeff Okudah, wide […]
The Atlanta Falcons are just a few days away from their Week 1 matchup against the Carolina Panthers and they could have most of their key pieces ready to go.
Head coach Arthur Smith provided a general update of those on the active roster who are currently battling injuries, including cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Jeff Okudah, wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, and running back Cordarrelle Patterson.
“Some of those guys will be back out there, but (I’m) very pleased with how everybody’s progressing," Smith said Monday, Sept. 4. "Those guys worked hard over the weekend rehabbing, but most of those guys will be back with the exception of a few.”
The Falcons won't release their official Week 1 injury report until Wednesday, Sept. 6, but here's what we know so far.
CB Mike Hughes Returned to Practice
Hughes was back at practice on Monday, according to Falcons' team reporter Terrin Waack.
Huges had been sidelined since mid-August while tending to a soft-tissue injury that he sustained in the Falcons' preseason opener vs. the Miami Dolphins.
Hughes was up for a starting job in the secondary, but missing good a chunk of the preseason may have cost him. Still, he remains an important depth piece at corner and provides the Falcons with another option as a returner.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Jeff Okudah, and KhaDarel Hodge at Risk
Despite Smith's optimism, Patterson, Okudah and Hodge could be at risk of missing Atlanta's first game of the season.
Per Waack, these three were not at practice on Monday.
Similar to Hughes, Patterson has been dealing with a soft-tissue issue since the beginning of August. Patterson's veteran absence would be a major loss to the Falcons on Sunday, but Tyler Allgeier and rookie Bijan Robinson should have no problem handling the workload.
Okudah has been nursing an ankle injury he suffered at practice on Aug. 5 and it will be a welcomed surprise if he is ready by Sunday.
The same can be said for Hodge, who is also rehabbing an ankle injury sustained from the Falcons' second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Injured Reserve
Atlanta currently has eight players on injured reserve:
- CB Avery Willams (knee)
- OT Ethan Greenidge (undisclosed)
- TE Feleipe Franks (undisclosed)
- DE Ikenna Enechukwu (undisclosed)
- LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji (foot)
- C Matt Hennessey (knee)
- WR Penny Hart (concussion)
- CB Cornell Armstrong (hamstring)
The Falcons kick off the 2023 regular season with a home opener against the Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. ET.
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Featured image via John David Mercer–USA TODAY Sports
