After a well-placed bye week right in the middle of the schedule, the Falcons will return to practice Monday.
The Falcons (1-7) are set to face the rival New Orleans Saints (7-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Superdome.
Here are five things to know as the Falcons return from the bye week:
1. Ryan expected back. Quarterback Matt Ryan is expected back from the right ankle sprained that caused him to miss the last game, snapping a streak of 163 consecutive starts.
Matt Schaub started in the 27-20 loss to Seattle and passed for 460 yards.
In seven starts, Ryan has completed 202 of 285 passes (70.9%) for 2,170 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has a passer rating of 98.7.
Ryan's injury, which was suffered after he was sacked by Rams defensive star Aaron Donald, was described as a "high ankle sprain" by Dr. David. J. Chao, a former NFL team doctor for 17 years. He also projected that Ryan would miss a week or two.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Ryan pushed hard to play in the last game against Seattle.
“I would anticipate him being ready for when we come back to play New Orleans,” Quinn said.
Ryan missed two games back in the 2009 season with a turf toe injury suffered in Week 11.
2. Can Trufant make it back. Left cornerback Desmond Trufant suffered a turf toe injury against Houston on Oct. 6. He missed the last three games.
Before the bye week he was running off to the side with the trainers, which is normally the first step to returning to practice.
Rookie Kendall Sheffield, a fourth-round pick from Ohio State, has started in his place. Sheffield has played well over 242 defensive snaps (44.2%). He has one forced fumble and 19 tackles.
If healthy, Trufant may be able to help stabilize things in the secondary, which has given up 31 pass plays for 20 yards or more and 19 touchdown passes.
3. Lindstrom close to returning. Right guard Chris Lindstrom, the Falcons first-round pick (14th overall) suffered a foot injury in the season-opening loss to the Vikings. He was placed on injured reserved with a designation to return.
Lindstrom has a 21-day practice window. He can return anytime after missing eight games. The Saints’ game will be his eighth.
Lindstrom had surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot on Sept. 11.
The earliest Lindstrom could return would be Game 10 against Carolina on Nov. 17.
Last season, linebacker Deion Jones suffered a broken foot in the season opener and returned to play the final five games of the season.
With Lindstrom out, Jamon Brown and Wes Schweitzer have started at right guard.
4. New kicker: After a rash of missed kicks, the Falcons released Matt Bryant and signed Younghoe Koo (pronounced "Young Way Coo") who played at Georgia Southern.
Koo last kicked in the NFL for the Chargers in 2017.
The Falcons cut Bryant — the franchise's all-time points leader — in February. He made 9 of 14 field-goal attempts after rejoining the team just before the start of the season.
Giorgio Tavecchio was slated to be the field-goal kicker, but he was too erratic in the exhibition season and the team re-signed Bryant.
Bryant, 44, made just 2 of 6 of his field-goal attempts from 50 yards or more before getting released
Koo was on the Patriots’ practice squad. In 2017, he played in four games and was 3 of 6 on field goals, including 1 of 4 from 40 to 49 yards. He’s never attempted a kick beyond 50 yards in the NFL.
Koo was the kicker on the Atlanta Legends, during their short-lived Alliance of American Football season. He was a perfect 14-of-14 on his attempts, his longest at 38 yards.
Koo is the fourth NFL player born in South Korea.
5. Roster moves. The Falcons have to make a roster move to replace punter Kasey Redfern.
After cutting Redfern, cornerback D.J. White and quarterback Danny Etling, the Falcons have three roster spots available on the 53-man roster.
Redfern, who also handled kickoffs, was signed before the Arizona game Oct. 13. He played in three games for the Falcons and averaged 41.2 yards on nine punts.
Before signing Redfern the Falcons were set to sign Sam Irwn-Hill, but the Australian-born punter, had issues with a work visa.
Matt Bosher, who suffered a right groin injury, was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 5.
Bosher played in the first two games of the season. He was inactive against the Colts in Week 3 with a groin injury, and Matt Wile was on the roster for that game.
Wile punted in two games for the Falcons this season.
