Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson had surgery on his left knee and was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, Falcons coach Arthur Smith said on Monday.
Being placed on injured reserve will sideline Patterson, the team’s leading rusher who has scored in three of the Falcons’ four games this season, for at least four weeks.
“Cordarrelle Patterson, we’ll put him on IR to return,” Smith said. “He had a minor procedure this morning that will help him long-term. He will go on IR with the plan for him to return.”
Running back Caleb Huntley was added to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and cornerback Cornell Armstrong was signed to the practice squad.
Patterson did not practice last Wednesday and Thursday and was listed on the injury report as resting his left knee. He was limited in practice on Friday and listed as questionable for the game.
Patterson started the game against the Browns and rushed nine times for 38 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown. No injury was announced.
“It’s something that he’s been managing,” Smith said. “I’m not a doctor, but you know you’re trying to weigh all that and then nothing that we did that put him at further risk.”
Patterson rushed for career-high 120 yards against the Saints in the season-opener of Sept. 11. Two weeks later, he topped his career-high with a 141-yard effort against the Seahawks and was named the NFC offensive player of the week.
With Patterson being held out or unavailable against the Browns, Tyler Allgeier, Avery Williams and Huntley stepped forward in the running game. Huntley had a touchdown run and a 14-yard scamper. Allgeier had a powerful 42 yard run and Williams broke free around left end for a 21-yard gain.
The backups are ready to take on a committee approach at running back. The Falcons are averaging 168 yards rushing per game, which ranks fourth in the league.
“I just think we just feed off of each other,” Allgeier said. “(Huntley) ended up getting a touchdown. All the running backs are over here hype as hell for him. I think that’s what shows for our group. If someone has individual success, we are just hyped up for them.”
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Atlanta Falcons 2022 NFL 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 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Oct. 16 vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m.
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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