Falcons rule out Troy Andersen ahead of Packers matchup
The Green Bay Packers are taking on the Atlanta Falcons in a sneaky-tough matchup, so any break they receive is more than welcomed. They received said break on Friday when the Falcons ruled out starting linebacker, Troy Andersen, for Sunday's game with a concussion. It's definitely a blow for the Falcons, as Andersen played the […]
The Green Bay Packers are taking on the Atlanta Falcons in a sneaky-tough matchup, so any break they receive is more than welcomed.
They received said break on Friday when the Falcons ruled out starting linebacker, Troy Andersen, for Sunday's game with a concussion. It's definitely a blow for the Falcons, as Andersen played the best game of his career. He's tied with All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III, for the team lead in tackles (10) and he's also tied for the team lead with one tackle for loss. In all, Andersen finished Week 1 with 10 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sacks, and one QB hit while playing 99% of defensive snaps.
It was the first game in which Andersen recorded double-digit tackles, a TFL, 0.5 sacks, and a QB hit in the same game. Per Pro Football Focus, he also notched four stops, which is a career-high.
Andersen was a limited participant on Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday, but the Falcons decided to play it safe and keep him out.
Second-year linebacker, Nate Landman, is expected to step in for Andersen. The former undrafted free agent hasn't played a single defensive snap since joining the team in 2022. Veteran linebacker Tae Davis is also on the roster, so he can step in for Landman if the latter struggles.
The Packers love to run the ball, even possibly without Aaron Jones in the mix, so the loss of Andersen is certainly a plus. Before the season, Andersen was pegged as a potential breakout player for the Falcons, which goes to show his potential. His combination of size and athleticism will certainly be missed as the team aims for its first 2-0 start since 2017.
Packers aware of potential frustrations that come with the Falcons
Gotta play it smart on Sunday.
Featured image via Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK
