Tony Gonzalez

Yesterday, the Atlanta Falcons announced their injury report for their Thursday Night contest against NFC South Division rival, the New Orleans Saints. On it, tight end Tony Gonzalez was among several players listed as questionable with a toe injury, but according to head coach Mike Smith (via ESPN’s Vaughn McClure), he is expected to play. Gonzalez did not participate in practices on Monday and Tuesday this week, but did participate on a limited basis on Wednesday.

Also listed as questionable are defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (tricep), quarterback Dominique Davis (knee), and safety Zeke Motta (hand). All three players were limited in all three days of practice this week. Davis suffered his injury in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, prompting the team to work out a pair of veteran quarterbacks in Trent Edwards and Mike Kafka this week. Neither passer was signed due to the expectation that Davis will be available against the Saints. Motta has a broken finger and is expected to play with a cast according to an earlier report this week.

Listed as out on the injury report is defensive end Malliciah Goodman, who also missed last week’s game with a calf injury. He was held out of practice again this week.

Defensive tackle Peria Jerry (shoulder), running back Jacquizz Rodgers (ankle), offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood (knee/hip), and linebacker Paul Worrilow (shoulder) were all listed as probable. All three players fully participated on Wednesday, while being limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday due to the shortened week of preparation.

Notable injuries for the Saints include guards Jahri Evans (ankle) and Ben Grubbs (neck), defensive end Akiem Hicks (back), running back Darren Sproles (knee/ankle), safety Kenny Vaccaro (concussion), and tight end Ben Watson (concussion). All six players were listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Both Evans and Sproles were held out of Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices. Also appearing on the injury report as probable are tight end Jimmy Graham (elbow/foot), defensive end Cameron Jordan (ankle), and linebacker Curtis Lofton (hamstring/ankle). Cornerback Jabari Greer was placed on injured reserve earlier this week with a torn ACL. He is expected to be replaced in the starting lineup by second-year cornerback Corey White.

The Atlanta Falcons announced their injury report for this weekend’s upcoming matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and tight end Tony Gonzalez was among several players listed as questionable. Gonzalez injured his toe during last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks and was held out of practice this week on Wednesday and Thursday. He returned to practice on a limited basis today, but his status for Sunday’s game remains up in the air.

Also questionable on the injury report are wide receiver Harry Douglas (knee), and defensive tackles Peria Jerry (toe) and Corey Peters (knee). Douglas suffered his injury during the week, missing Thursday’s practice but returned to practice on a limited basis today. Both Jerry and Peters were able to play last week despite suffering from the same injuries. Jerry was limited in practice on all three days, while Peters missed Wednesday’s practice, but was limited on Thursday and Friday. Defensive end Malliciah Goodman (calf) will miss this week’s game as he was out all three days of practice.

Listed as probable are running back Steven Jackson (toe), linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (foot), and wide receiver Roddy White (shoulder). Jackson and White have both been limited this year with other injuries. Jackson missed several games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury. White returned to the Falcons lineup last week for the first time since Week 5 after suffering from hamstring and ankle injuries. Weatherspoon was just elevated off the short-term injured reserve this week after suffering a foot injury earlier in the year.

Also appearing on the injury report is running back Jason Snelling. Snelling missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury, but was limited. He missed Friday’s practice with a non-injury related issue due to his arrest for possession of marijuana.

Notable injuries for the Buccaneers include guard Carl Nicks (foot) and defensive end Da’Quan Bowers (concussion), who are out and questionable, respectively. Also listed on the injury report as probable are safety Mark Barron (knee), wide receiver Vincent Jackson (knee), guard Davin Joseph (knee), tackle Donald Penn (calf), and defensive tackle Akeem Spence (wrist).

The Falcons announced that offensive tackle Sam Baker’s 2013 season is over as he will be placed on injured reserve officially tomorrow. Baker has been ailed by a knee injury throughout this season, causing him to miss five games and most of a sixth. Baker recently returned to the starting lineup in the Falcons Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers, but re-aggravated the injury, missing this past Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The injury will require season-ending surgery.

Baker started the season at left tackle after receiving a sizable six-year deal in the off-season. He started the first two games at left tackle and performed poorly. He suffered a foot injury late against the St. Louis Rams in Week 2 and was pulled from the game on the final series. He then missed the Falcons Week 3 loss to the Miami Dolphins, but returned to start the following week against the New England Patriots. But he again re-aggravated his injury and exited the game in the first half. He then missed the next three games before returning against the Panthers.

In his absence, Lamar Holmes will replace him at left tackle. Holmes had logged starts in Baker’s absence, after being moved from right tackle. The Falcons intend to make a subsequent move this week to replace Baker on the roster.

To make room for the return of linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, the Falcons waived linebacker Thomas Howard today. Weatherspoon was placed on short-term injured reserve in September, and is eligible to return to the roster. He began practicing last week for the first time and is slated to return on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Howard was signed by the Falcons three weeks ago when the team released Jamar Chaney. Chaney was one of two signings, alongside Omar Gaither, made when Weatherspoon was first injured. Howard had appeared in two games with the Falcons, playing exclusively on special teams.

The Falcons injury report released this week lists Falcons wide receiver Roddy White as questionable with his hamstring/ankle injuries that has caused him to miss the past three games. White indicated earlier this week that he expects to play this Sunday, but was listed as questionable due to being limited in all three days of practice this week.

Also listed as questionable were offensive tackle Sam Baker (knee), linebacker Stephen Nicholas (thigh), and defensive tackle Corey Peters (knee). Like White, Baker and Nicholas were limited in all three days of practice this week. Peters missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices and was limited on Friday. Peters suffered his injury during last week’s loss to the Carolina Panthers. Baker returned to the starting lineup against the Panthers for the first time since Week 4. Nicholas has missed the past two games with his injury.

Defensive tackle Peria Jerry (toe) was listed as probable after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, and fully participated in Friday’s practice.

For the Seahawks, notable injuries include defensive end Red Bryant (concussion) and center Max Unger (concussion), who were listed out. Right tackle Breno Giacomini (knee) is doubtful. Safety Kam Chancellor (ankle), defensive end Chris Clemons (non-injury) and running back Marshawn Lynch (knee) were listed as probable.

The Falcons announced their injury report yesterday, and wide receiver Roddy White was listed as questionable after participating on a limited basis in Friday’s practice. White has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, and was held out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday. If White is unable to go, the Falcons will continue to start Drew Davis opposite Harry Douglas at wide receiver as they have done the past two weeks.

Also listed as questionable were offensive tackle Sam Baker (knee), safety William Moore (hip), and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (knee). All three players were limited on all three days of practice this week. Out this week will once again be Stephen Nicholas (thigh), who was held completely out of practice. If Baker is unable to go, he will be replaced by Lamar Holmes, who has started the past three games at left tackle in Baker’s absence. Moore’s backup is rookie Zeke Motta, who has had minimal reps on defense thus far this year, mostly appearing on special teams. Umenyiora’s potential absence could see the Falcons shuffle their defensive end rotation, moving Jonathan Massaquoi to right end and potentially starting Malliciah Goodman at left end.

Jason Snelling (ankle) is probable after missing Wednesday’s practice, but fully participated on Friday. Linebacker Akeem Dent (ankle), center Joe Hawley (elbow), defensive tackle Peria Jerry (toe), and guard Garrett Reynolds (knee) were all probable as well. Dent and Reynolds were both limited on Wednesday, but fully participated in Thursday and Friday’s practices. Hawley and Jerry were limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but fully participated on Friday.

For Carolina, notable players on their injury report are: linebacker Chase Blackburn (foot), who is questionable this week, along with linebacker Thomas Davis (shoulder), defensive end Charles Johnson (groin), and running back DeAngelo Williams (quad), who are all probable. Johnson and Williams were held out of practices on Wednesday and Thursday, but returned on a limited basis on Friday.

Steven Jackson

The Falcons announced their weekly injury report yesterday, indicating that wide receiver Roddy White and running back Jason Snelling will be out for this weekend’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. White (hamstring/ankle) and Snelling (ankle) both missed the entire week of practice thanks to their respective injuries. Also linebacker Stephen Nicholas (thigh) was held out of practice this week and will miss the game.

But the Falcons got good news as running back Steven Jackson (hamstring) is expected to suit up for the Falcons for the first time since Week 2. Jackson was limited all three days of practice and was declared probable. Typically the Falcons only declare players that fully participate on Friday as probable, but Jackson’s status is indicative that his limited reps this week were more precautionary than necessary.

Also questionable will be offensive tackle Sam Baker (knee) and linebacker Akeem Dent (ankle). Baker and Dent were both limited in all three practices this week. If Baker is unable to go, Lamar Holmes will likely get the start at left tackle, a role he’s filled the past two games with Baker out of the lineup. Dent returned to the lineup last week after missing the Falcons Week 5 contest against the Jets due to the ankle injury he suffered the preceding week against the New England Patriots. Omar Gaither started at middle linebacker against the Jets in Dent’s absence.

Listed as probable on the injury report were cornerback Robert Alford (ankle), tight end Chase Coffman (knee), and defensive tackle Corey Peters (shoulder). Alford was limited on Wednesday, but fully participated in Thursday and Friday’s practices. Coffman and Peters were both limited on the first two days of practice, but saw a full workload on Friday. Alford supplanted Robert McClain as the team’s nickel cornerback last week and also replaced Harry Douglas on punt returns. But the team has indicated that they might look at other players in the latter role given Alford’s costly turnover last week on his lone punt return.

Notable injuries for the Arizona Cardinals include running back Rashard Mendenhall (toe), who is doubtful for the game. It will likely lead to backup Andre Ellington starting for the team on Sunday. Left guard Daryn Colledge (back) and outside linebacker Matt Shaughnessy (knee) are questionable. Colledge’s absence could lead to Nate Potter getting inserted into the lineup, a role he struggled in last week in Arizona’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) fully participated in all three days of practice and is listed as probable.

The Falcons announced their injury report yesterday, where four Falcons players were ruled out for Sunday’s Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Questionable on the Falcons injury report is linebacker Akeem Dent, who returned to practice after missing the Falcons Week 5 loss to the New York Jets with an ankle injury. Dent suffered his injury the preceding week against the New England Patriots. In his absence, Omar Gaither has filled in at middle linebacker. Dent was limited in practice on both Thursday and Friday after missing practice on Wednesday.

Among the players listed as out were wide receiver Roddy White and running back Steven Jackson, both out with hamstring injuries. White had been suffering from a high ankle sprain that had him limited in the Falcons early games this season, but injured his hamstring late against the Jets. Jackson has been injured since the Falcons Week 2 win over the St. Louis Rams. Original reports suggested that Jackson was expected to return this week from that injury, but he was unable to practice this week. Neither did White.

Offensive tackle Sam Baker (knee) and tight end Chase Coffman (knee) were also ruled out this week. Baker will miss his second-consecutive game, and third of the season with his knee injury. He started the Falcons Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots, but quickly exited that game after re-aggravating his knee injury that was bothering him since Week 1. Coffman will miss his second game due to injury, suffering his knee injury during practice in the week leading up to the Falcons-Jets matchup. Like Jackson and White, neither Baker or Coffman were able to practice this week.

Also on the Falcons injury report is running back Jason Snelling, who should play as he was listed as probable this week. After suffering a concussion against the Jets, Snelling was able to fully participate in all three practices this week.

Notable injuries for the Bucs include guard Carl Nicks (foot) who is out due to surgery stemming from a MRSA infection. Wide receiver Mike Williams (hamstring) and defensive end Da’Quan Bowers (toe) are questionable. Both players were limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but fully participated in Friday’s practice.

ESPN’s Vaughn McClure reports that running back Steven Jackson’s status is still a bit uncertain as he works back from a hamstring injury suffered in the first quarter of the Falcons Week 2 win over the St. Louis Rams. McClure first reported three weeks ago that Jackson would likely be out until this weekend’s Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Falcons head coach Mike Smith gave no update to Jackson’s status to indicate that he would return to practice this week.

Jackson has missed the Falcons last three games. In his absence, the Falcons have split reps between Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling. Snelling suffered a concussion in the Falcons in Week 6 loss to the New York Jets, but McClure reports that he is expected to return this week.

Jones makes a one-handed grab on a 46-yard play vs. Jets

FOX Sports Jay Glazer reports that the Falcons are fearful that wide receiver Julio Jones is out for the remainder of the 2013 season with an undisclosed foot injury. Both the team and Jones are hoping for a better prognosis with a second opinion but are pessimistic.

Jones exited last night’s loss to the New York Jets in the fourth quarter for an undisclosed injury for a few snaps, but was back in the game on the next series. Which included a 46-yard grab with five minutes remaining to set up a Falcons score.  He was targeted only once for the remainder of the game. It was reported by NFL.com’s Jeff Darlington last night that Jones was limping badly from an unknown injury to his lower right leg after the game:

Adding injury to insult: I just saw Julio Jones limping out of the x-ray room for unknown reason. Whatever it is, it's lower right leg/foot.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) October 8, 2013

Falcons wide receiver Roddy White is already ailing from a high ankle sprain suffered in the preseason. He injured his hamstring late in the game, shortly before Jones’ own exit from the game.

The Falcons are off this week due to a bye. In the absence of Jones, the Falcons will have to rely on Harry Douglas and a potentially recovered White to carry the Falcons passing attack at wide receiver. Kevin Cone made his first career catch against the Jets, while fourth receiver Drew Davis has been shut out with only a single target this year. Jones currently leads the NFL in receiving yards (580) and is second in receptions (59) behind only Jacksonville’s Cecil Shorts (62). Any rumors of the Falcons potentially making a trade before the October 29 deadline will certainly pick up in the coming days. There have been rampant reports in recent weeks that the Cleveland Browns are listening to offers for wide receiver Josh Gordon. Gordon missed the Browns first two games of the year due to a suspension by the league for their banned substances policy, for allegedly an accidental ingestion of banned cough syrup. In the three games since, he’s caught 18 passes for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns.