Falcons starters to see extra action

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Falcons starters will play into the second half of Saturday’s exhibition game against the San Diego Chargers, coach Mike Smith said Thursday.

“That is to allow them to come [back] out and to have made [half-time] adjustments and go out and play before the first [regular-season] game,” Smith said. “That will be the only time in the preseason where our starters will go into the second half of a ball game.”

Smith would not reveal the team’s plan for the rotation at quarterback. With starter Matt Ryan working with the first unit into the second half there will be limited reps for the other three quarterbacks. Smith said earlier this week that Chris Redman, who did not play last week against St. Louis, will play Saturday. It is likely that either D.J. Shockley or John Parker Wilson will not play.

Injury update

The Falcons will be without two defensive reserves Saturday. Defensive tackle Jason Jefferson had a surgical procedure on his groin and will not play, according to Smith.

Defensive end Willie Evans is out with a back injury.

Moore will play

Rookie safety William Moore will see his first playing time of the exhibition season. The second-round draft pick has missed several weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee injured during training camp.

Smith said Moore would play on special teams early in Saturday’s game and then play several series in the second half.

“We’ll see how he handles those two or three series and then ramp that up a little more in the fourth [exhibition] game [Thursday vs. Baltimore],” Smith said. “He is way behind in terms of reps because he missed three weeks.”

A quality opponent

After starting the exhibition season with games against Detroit and St. Louis, teams with a combined two wins last season, the Falcons will get a test against San Diego. It will help the player-evaluation process to play a quality opponent in Week 3, when the starters will play significant time.

“They are well-established,” Smith said of last season’s AFC West winners. “They have a lot of weapons on offense that will challenge our young players, and they’ve got a number of weapons on defense as well.”

Sidbury still learning

Rookie defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, a fourth-round draft pick out of Richmond, isn’t resting after his two-sack performance last week.

“Coaches want to see improvement each week,” Sidbury said. “Despite the success I might have had on the field last week, there are still things that need to be corrected, and this week’s game is an opportunity to show that I was able to get better.”