Falcons hit hard with front-line injuries
The Falcons suffered a rash of injuries to front-line players in the 34-23 win over the Packers on Sunday night.
All-Pro defensive end/linebacker Vic Beasley left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return. He had two tackles, a big sack and a quarterback hit. He caused a fumble on his sack that cornerback Desmond Trufant scooped up and returned 15 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to give the Falcons a 31-7 lead.
Right tackle Ryan Schraeder suffered a concussion on the first series of the game and didn’t return. Ty Sambrailo replaced Schraeder in the lineup.
Also, defensive tackle/end Courtney Upshaw suffered an ankle injury on the first defensive series of the game and did not return.
“I don’t have any injury updates on them,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said after the game. “I’ll give you an update tomorrow as we go, but there is no change in their status from what was reported in game regarding those three. I’ll gladly update that tomorrow.”
Sambralio drew raves from quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Devonta Freeman.
“He did a good job stepping up,” Freeman said. “We all have a lot of work to do, but that was major for him to step up against Clay Matthews one of the best defensive ends in the world. He held his own.”
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.
