Norwood, Moore will miss final preseason game

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Flowery Branch — Falcons running back Jerious Norwood and safety William Moore will not play against Baltimore on Thursday, head coach Mike Smith said after practice Monday.

Norwood suffered head and knee injuries and Moore pulled a hamstring against San Diego Saturday.

“Jerious had the big hit in the ball game there and his head got hit hard,” Smith said. “He also had a situation with his leg. We’ll be very cautious with that.”

Norwood caught as pass along the sideline and was tackled by San Diego’s Antonio Cromartie. There appeared to be helmet-to-helmet contact but no penalty was called.

Moore, the team’s second-round draft pick out of Missouri, was coming back from knee surgery and pulled a hamstring on the same left leg.

He was injured on a special teams play.

“We’re going to work him back in and see if we can get him back [for the season opener],” Smith said.

Moore was originally injured the first week of training game. He was expected to compete for a starting position in the secondary. The only action he had seen all exhibition season came against San Diego.

Jerry steps up

First-round draft pick Peria Jerry had one tackle against the Chargers but also demonstrated excellent penetration at times.

“I thought Peria had his best game of the preseason,” Smith said. “It was his third game.”

He didn’t start in the first two preseason games.

Final exhibition game

Most of the reserves will see plenty of action against the Ravens.

“It will be a completely different rotation this week,” Smith said. “We did not play some of the younger guys as many snaps in the first two games. We want these guys who are fighting for roster spots to be evaluated.”

Cliff hangers

All of the Falcons exhibition season games have gone down to the wire.

They dropped the opener to Detroit on a last-second field goal. They beat the Rams when safety Eric Brock made an interception in the end zone with 43 second to play. The win over San Diego game on a touchdown pass with nine seconds left.

“People say the preseason is not too exciting,” Smith said, “but I don’t know how much more exciting the three games that we’ve played this year could be.”