FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons starting right cornerback Casey Hayward suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of the 28-14 win over the 49ers on Sunday, which could be “long term,” coach Arthur Smith said Monday.
“The one that we’d be concerned about is Casey,” Smith said. “We don’t have all of the information, but that would be the one that’s looking more long term.”
It would be a bad time to lose Hayward, as the Falcons (3-3) are set to play the defending AFC champion Bengals (3-3) and their vaunted passing attack at 1 p.m. Sunday in Cincinnati.
Hayward left the game holding his right arm.
Second-year cornerback Darren Hall went in for Hayward and had been splitting some of his reps before this injury.
Cornerback A.J. Terrell left the field holding the back of his leg after covering a deep pass in the third quarter. It was announced as a thigh injury. He did not return to the game but said he was fine after the game.
Also, defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. He returned to the game.
In the fourth quarter, cornerback Isaiah Oliver needed medical attention. But he’s fine, according to Smith. “It’s football,” Smith said.
However, Hayward could be headed for injured reserve.
“The rest of those guys we’ll continue to evaluate,” Smith said. “I think they will be short term, but Casey is the one that we’re concerned about.”
Smith is fine with the depth in the secondary. At one point against the 49ers, Dee Alford, Hall and Mike Ford were the cornerbacks with Hayward, Terrell and Oliver out.
The Bengals defeated the Saints 30-26, and quarterback Joe Burrow passed for 300 yards in the victory.
“Obviously, it’s still early in the week,” Smith said. “We know we have a challenge in Cincinnati and their personnel as much as they like to play in 11 personnel (three wide receivers), and they’ve got really good wideouts and a really good quarterback ... We’re confident in our guys. They stepped up and played really well (against San Francisco).”
Hayward, who is from Perry and played at Vanderbilt, agreed to a two-year contract with the Falcons in March.
Hayward, 33, was a second-round pick (62nd overall) by the Green Bay Packers in 2012. He played four seasons with the Packers, five with the Chargers and one with the Raiders. He was named to the Pro Bowl and was second-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2017.
Hayward has played in 152 games and made 118 starts. He has 25 career interceptions.
Hayward, 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, took over for Fabian Moreau, who was not re-signed by the team.
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The Bow Tie Chronicles
Atlanta Falcons 2022 schedule
Sept. 11: Saints 27, Falcons 26
Sept. 18: Rams 31, Falcons 27
Sept. 25 Falcons 27, Seahawks 23
Oct. 2 Falcons 23, Browns 20
Oct. 9 Buccaneers 21, Falcons 15
Oct. 16 Falcons 28, 49ers 14
Oct. 23 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Oct. 30 vs. Carolina, 1 p.m.
Nov. 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Carolina, 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 20 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Washington, 1 p.m.
Dec. 4 vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
BYE WEEK
Dec. 18 at New Orleans, TBD
Dec. 24 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Jan. 1 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m.
Jan. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, TBD
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