Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons’ Matt Ryan sitting out exhibition opener

081321 Atlanta: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, apparently not playing against the Tennessee Titans, watches teammates warmup for a NFL preseason football game on Friday, August 13, 2021, in Atlanta. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

081321 Atlanta: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, apparently not playing against the Tennessee Titans, watches teammates warmup for a NFL preseason football game on Friday, August 13, 2021, in Atlanta. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”
By
Aug 13, 2021

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is not playing in the exhibition season opener against the Titans at 7 p.m. Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Backup quarterbacks AJ McCarron and Feleipe Franks will split the game. Ryan entered the field in black warm-ups, sipping on some coffee. He went over and started watching McCarron and Franks warm up.

Also, not playing for the Falcons are left tackle Jake Matthews, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, tight ends Lee Smith and Hayden Hurst, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, safeties Erik Harris and Duron Harmon, linebacker Foye Oluokun and cornerback A.J. Terrell.

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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.

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