Falcons wait word on Finneran's knee

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons wide receiver Brian Finneran, who battled back from missing two seasons because of a knee injury, suffered an undisclosed knee injury against the Washington Redskins.

Falcons coach Mike Smith was not sure if Finneran had re-injured his rebuilt knee (right) that kept him out of football for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

"I don't know the answer to that," Smith said Monday. "Brian was not able to return. We'll know more on Wednesday."

Finneran left the game after making a 9-yard catch on the Falcons' opening drive. He limped off the field and was taken to the locker room. He later returned in street clothes.

Also, left tackle Sam Baker re-injured his left ankle and did not return.

Running back Jerious Norwood (right hip flexor), running back Jason Snelling (hamstring) and defensive tackle Thomas Johnson (calf) were inactive for the Redskins game.

Snelling and Johnson are close to returning.

Stat corner

Middle linebacker Curtis Lofton leads the league in tackles with 84, according to the NFL.com stats.

Running back Michael Turner has rumbled back into the top 10 rushers. He's seventh in the league with 720 yards on 156 carries (4.6 per carry) and has 10 touchdowns. He's on pace for 20 rushing touchdowns, which would break the franchise mark of 17 that he set last season.

"He looks like the 2008 model," NFL Network's Deion Sanders said on the "NFL Gameday" show.

The pass defense, which is giving up 246.4 yards passing per game, moved up from 31st to 27th in the league.

Davis out for season

Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis, a former Georgia standout, is out for the season with a knee injury. The Falcons play at Carolina on Sunday.

"Thomas is an outstanding player and has been a big contributor for them," Smith said.

Hill the starter?

Cornerback Tye Hill has started the last two games at left cornerback, but Smith will not name him the starter.

"We are not going to name a starter this early in the week," Smith said.

Abraham's fine

Defensive end John Abraham has just 3.5 sacks after setting a franchise record with 16 sacks last season.

"The last two games he's been back there," defensive line coach Ray Hamilton said. "He didn't get a sack against New Orleans, but he was back there a lot. He got a sack, and he had his hands on the guy a few other times [on Sunday] and couldn't quite get him down."