Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will return to the starting lineup when the Falcons (2-7) face Tampa Bay (1-8) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Weatherspoon suffered a foot sprain against St. Louis in the second week of the season. He was activated from the injured reserve/designated for return list Wednesday.
Undrafted rookies Paul Worrilow and Joplo Bartu are scheduled to start at middle and strongside linebacker, respectively. Akeem Dent will shift into a reserve role.
“I look forward to getting out there and helping in any way that I can,” Weatherspoon said. “I know I’m not like in midseason form or anything, but I’ll be out there playing really hard and with passion. That’s how you’re supposed to play the game.”
Weatherspoon is the leader of the defense, which has struggled in his absence. The Falcons have been outscored by 61 points over the past three games — against Arizona, Carolina and Seattle.
“I’ll have some tough tasks. I have to cover (tight end Tim Wright) a little bit,” Weatherspoon said. “I’ve got to do some things I haven’t done in a while. It’s going to be a long day, but a fun day.”
Worrilow and Bartu are playing the spots that Dent and Stephen Nicholas manned last season.
Gonzalez questionable: Tight end Tony Gonzalez, who has missed only two games in his career, was limited in practice and listed as questionable for the game.
“Tony received some limited work,” coach Mike Smith said.
Also, defensive end Malliciah Goodman, who suffered a calf injury against Seattle, was declared out of the game.
Running back Steven Jackson (toe) and wide receiver Roddy White (shoulder) fully participated in practice and are probable for Sunday.
Wide receiver Harry Douglas (knee), defensive tackle Peria Jerry (toe), defensive tackle Corey Peters (knee), running back Jason Snelling (non-injury related/knee) all were limited in practices and listed as questionable.
Gonzalez leads the Falcons with 47 receptions and four touchdown catches. He ranks third on the team in receiving yards, with 505.
Morale check: Quarterback Matt Ryan believes the team is disappointed as it fights through its second three-game losing streak of the season. They also lost consecutively to Miami, New England and the New York Jets.
“You just got to be positive,” Ryan said. “You’ve got to be upbeat. You’ve got to take pride in what you do. That’s kind of my message to everybody. I try and do that myself.”
The real McCoy: Smith noted that defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David lead the charge for Tampa Bay's defense.
“(McCoy is) playing at a Pro Bowl level, and David, their linebacker, is playing at a Pro Bowl level,” Smith said.
Etc.: The Falcons have lost their past three games by 61 points. … The Falcons have averaged 56.3 yards rushing over the past three games with no rushing touchdowns. … This will be the 41st meeting with the Bucs. The series is tied 20-20. … When Ryan has a passer rating of 100 or more, the Falcons are 34-2 (.944).
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