Falcons receiver Darnell Mooney has shoulder injury; team signs D.J. Chark
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons starting receiver Darnell Mooney left Thursday’s practice walking with a trainer after falling to the ground attempting to catch a pass. He suffered a shoulder injury that will cause him to miss a few weeks.
Wide receiver D.J. Chark, a seven-year veteran and one-time Pro Bowl selection, has signed with the Falcons, the team announced Saturday morning.
ESPN reported that Mooney was attempting to go for a pass from Michael Penix Jr. and was shaken up as he went to the ground.
Mooney, who signed in free agency from the Bears in the 2024 offseason, is coming off a strong season.
He posted a career high in yards per catch (15.5) and nearly cracked 1,000 yards receiving for the second time in his career.
Mooney caught 64 of 106 targets (51.9%) for 992 yards and five touchdowns. He missed the regular-season finale due to a shoulder injury that caused him to fall short of the 1,000-yard mark. It’s not certain if he re-injured the same shoulder.
Mooney, who was a fifth-round NFL draft pick (173rd overall) out of Tulane in 2020, had 1,055 yards receiving for the Bears in 2021.
Mooney had been putting in some extra work with quarterback Penix, and he’s been impressed with the second-year signal-caller.
During organized team activities, Mooney was looking forward to the season.
“Well, I was in my villain era last year, (but the Pro Football Writers Association) gave me the good-guy award,” Mooney said. “So, that didn’t work out too well, but other than that, I’m just grateful for (coach) Raheem (Morris) and (the assistant coaches). They just allowed me to be myself. So, I can do that, and I’m happy where I am.”
Chark, 28, played at LSU and was most recently with the Los Angeles Chargers. He has also played with the Jaguars (2018-21), Lions (’22) and Panthers (’23).
In 2019, he was named to the Pro Bowl after catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jaguars.
Chark, who is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, was drafted in the second round (61st overall) by the Jaguars in 2018. He played in seven games last season and had four catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
