The Falcons didn’t lose because of their injuries, but I’m confident a fully healthy Atlanta team wouldn’t have lost to the Broncos as badly as they did.
Atlanta was missing several starters, most of whom were on the defensive side of the ball, including Troy Andersen, Mike Hughes, Dee Alford, and Antonio Hamilton — three of their top four corners. To make matters worse, the Falcons immediately lost Kevin King.
The defense was forced to play Natrone Brooks and Richie Grant, which led to Bo Nix turning in the best game of his career. To add insult to injury, the Falcons also saw four others go down on Sunday.
Zach Harrison, Nate Landman, and Casey Washington all suffered injuries against the Broncos, but none are more jarring than Darnell Mooney, who left the contest with a hamstring injury.
Thankfully, the Falcons are entering their bye week, and according to Jeremy Fowler, Mooney’s hamstring injury isn’t serious.
Early prognosis is #Falcons WR Darnell Mooney's hamstring injury from Sunday is not serious, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 18, 2024
That’s excellent news because Mooney is a critical piece of the Falcons offense. The $39 million free agent signing has totaled over 700 yards and five touchdowns on 48 receptions.
However, it’s far from a disaster avoided. Soft tissue injuries are incredibly tricky, and there’s no timeline that has been provided. The Falcons are entering their bye week, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Darnell Mooney will have another week to rest up before the Falcons take on the Chargers in Atlanta. The club will surely be underdogs to a Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh-led team. The Falcons need Mooney if they are to pull off the upset and get back on track.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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