Injuries force Falcons to shuffle deck in secondary

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — In an almost-empty Atlanta Falcons locker room Monday afternoon, security Richie Grant stood at his stall. A few teammates have been milling round, a pair extra taking part in desk tennis, however he was there answering questions.

In some methods, after the final two weeks for the crew’s secondary, it was a becoming picture. The Falcons entered the season with a secondary that was their deepest and most proficient unit. Casey Hayward, a former Professional Bowler, was at one nook. A.J. Terrell, one of many prime younger cornerbacks within the league, was on the different.

The safeties have been new, Jaylinn Hawkins and Grant of their first years as full-time starters, however the mixture of the 4 regarded formidable.

And now, by Week 8 of the season, Grant may be the one one to play Sunday in opposition to Carolina.

“That did cross my thoughts,” Grant mentioned. “However I’ll say I’ve seen each man in our secondary play ball and I’m assured in all of them.

“I’m really excited for the chance they could have.”

What as soon as was a reasonably sturdy beginning 4 may be a bunch of query marks. Atlanta already dominated Hawkins out for Sunday as he’s within the concussion protocol. Falcons coach Arthur Smith mentioned Terrell, who suffered a proper hamstring damage in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, is “week to week.” The truth is that if Terrell isn’t training a lot, he in all probability received’t play. Atlanta have tended to be affected person with accidents to maintain them from turning into long-term issues.

Hayward has already missed one recreation and is on injured reserve with a shoulder damage that requires surgical procedure.

Hayward (340 snaps), Terrell (358) and Hawkins (404) have all logged main work this season. Terrell is the crew’s chief in go breakups (5) and Hawkins (41) and Terrell (29) are among the many crew’s prime 5 tacklers.

Second-year cornerback Darren Corridor made his second-career begin rather than Hayward final week in opposition to Cincinnati. After Terrell went down eight performs into the sport, it altered issues. Terrell was going to be shadowing star Cincinnati receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

With Terrell out, it put the defensive plan in flux. Corridor had watched Terrell’s actions all through the week in follow, but it surely nonetheless doesn’t approximate going in opposition to one of many NFL’s prime receivers.

“That’s what occurs in video games. Everyone’s coping with one thing,” Smith mentioned. “It’s the Nationwide Soccer League. We knew going into that recreation that we knew what their strengths have been, they usually did a pleasant job executing and we didn’t early.

“You get your self in a gap like that and it’s a must to adapt.”

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 481 yards in opposition to Atlanta — the second-best passing recreation ever in opposition to the Falcons.

Corridor will stay a starter. If Terrell can’t play, that’s the place it will get a bit extra complicated. Cornell Armstrong, who was on the follow squad and elevated for the sport, ended up taking part in nearly all of the time reverse Corridor. It’s potential he finally ends up there once more. Dee Alford, who missed the Cincinnati recreation with a hamstring damage, is “daily.” The Falcons might begin Alford reverse Corridor if he can get wholesome. Isaiah Oliver, the crew’s nickelback, could be an alternative choice, however he provides the Falcons stability in the course of the sphere.

The Falcons might play Mike Ford, who’s primarily a particular groups ace however has 9 begins at defensive again. It might additionally look to rookie follow squad nook Matt Hankins or second-year professional Dylan Mabin, additionally on the follow squad.

Smith, on Monday, didn’t rule out a waiver declare, if the precise participant have been accessible.

“You will have confidence within the particular person in any other case they wouldn’t be right here, proper?” security Erik Harris mentioned. “So let’s begin with that. So we’ve confidence. We’re an in depth group. It comes with expertise.”

Harris mentioned the expertise with coverages and the system may help ease the transition that may come from gamers lacking time.

Security is just a little bit simpler to decipher. With Hawkins out, the Falcons might look to Harris, who began 12 video games at security for Atlanta final season and 43 in his profession. Or it might go to Dean Marlowe, who has began 16 NFL video games and changed Hawkins on Sunday when he left.

Having two veterans backing up two youthful gamers — each Hawkins and Grant are on rookie contracts — was partially by design.

“It’s what the technique behind a few of the roster constructing,” Smith mentioned. “And what you attempt to develop guys which might be in your p-squad and guys which have been in your program in order that they know your system.”