FLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has an ankle injury and likely won’t play Thursday night against New England.
The Falcons have contended that he was not injured in the game Sunday against the Cowboys, but was officially limited at practice Monday. No injury was announced during the game.
The Falcons have options at running back in Wayne Gallman and practice-squad players Qadree Ollison and Caleb Huntley.
Patterson doesn’t have a replacement on the depth chart at kickoff returner. Punt returner Avery Williams might be the best option.
On the defense, the team lists lineman Ta’Quon Graham ahead of Anthony Rush. But since Rush is playing and Graham has been inactive, we moved Rush ahead of Graham below.
Patterson didn’t play in the second half against Dallas.
“Same reason I took Matt (Ryan) out once we realized (that) we (have) to play Thursday night,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “Mathematically, after the first couple of possessions, CP, he wanted to go back in there. But then we’ll have to see throughout the week. At that point, you got to make the best decision for your team.
“Come out the first drive the second half, you know, two drops, come back the next one, get something going, we get picked and get hit and picked again. I wasn’t going to keep the quarterback in there. ... That’s not smart for this football team and the rest of the season.”
Here’s the Falcons’ official depth chart for the Patriots’ game:
OFFENSE
WR - Tajae Sharpe, Christian Blake, (Calvin Ridley on the NFI list)
TE - Kyle Pitts, Lee Smith
LT - Jake Matthews, Jason Spriggs
LG - Jaylen Mayfield, Josh Andrews
C - Matt Hennessy, Drew Dalman
RG - Chris Lindstrom, Drew Dalman
RT – Kaleb McGarry, Jason Spriggs, Colby Gossett
TE - Hayden Hurst, *Keith Smith (Has lineup as traditional TE), *Feleipe Franks (was part of TE/QB package vs. Giants)
WR - Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus, Frank Darby
RB - Mike Davis, Cordarrelle Patterson, Wayne Gallman
*FB - Keith Smith, Cordarrelle Patterson (Added to reflect that they played the position in the opener.)
QB - Matt Ryan, Josh Rosen, Feleipe Franks
DEFENSE
DL - Grady Jarrett, Marlon Davidson
NT - Tyeler Davison, *Anthony Rush, Ta’Quon Graham
L - Jonathan Bullard, Mike Pennel, John Cominsky
OLB - Dante Fowler, Brandon Copeland
ILB - Deion Jones, Mykal Walker
ILB - Foyesade Oluokun, Daren Bates
OLB – Adetokunbo Ogundeji, James Vaughters
LCB - A.J. Terrell, Darren Hall, Chris Williamson
FS - Erik Harris, Jaylinn Hawkins
SS - Duron Harmon, Richie Grant
RCB - Fabian Moreau, Avery Williams, Kendall Sheffield
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Younghoe Koo
P - Dustin Colquitt
LS - Josh Harris
H - Dustin Colquitt
PR - Avery Williams, Olamide Zaccheaus
KOR - Cordarrelle Patterson
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Next four games
Patriots at Falcons, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
Falcons at Jacksonville, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 28
Tampa Bay at Atlanta, 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 5
Atlanta at Carolina, 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12
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