The Falcons, who are struggling with their red-zone offense, are holding out hope for the return of running back Steven Jackson, who’s been out with a hamstring injury since Sept. 15.
While Jackson did not practice Thursday, he was not declared out of the game as linebacker Akeem Dent (ankle) and left tackle Sam Baker (knee) were.
The team thought Jackson would be out two to three weeks. But Jackson wrote Friday in his blog that he didn’t plan to return until he was “100 percent healthy.”
The Falcons hope that’s soon.
“We’re not going to rule him out at this point in time,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’s working hard to get back, and we’ll have to see how the rest of the week plays out.”
The Falcons struggles in the red zone — 7-for-18 (38.5 percent), 28th in the NFL — have been heavily scrutinized. One simple reason is that they miss running back Michael Turner, who had 51 red-zone rushing touchdowns over the past five seasons.
Turner, who was released in January, scored nine red-zone touchdowns last season. He scored nine in 2011, 11 in 2010, eight in 2009 and 14 in 2008.
Jackson, his replacement, played in one full game before being injured on the first drive against St. Louis in the second game of the season.
Running back Jason Snelling has the lone rushing touchdown in the red zone this season, an 11-yard run against the Rams.
“We are anxious to get Steven back,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said. “At the same time, Jacquizz (Rodgers) and Jason are doing a really nice job in his absence.”
Moore fined: Falcons safety William Moore was notified by the NFL office of an undisclosed fine for a hit Sunday night on New England receiver Kenbrell Thompkins.
Smith would not comment on the fine and called it a “league matter.” Moore is appealing the fine.
It was his second notice of the season for Moore, the Falcons’ hard-hitting safety who went to the Pro Bowl last season as an alternate. He also was fined for a hit in the New Orleans game.
Injury report: In addition to Dent, Baker and Jackson, six other players were listed on the injury report.
Cornerback Asante Samuel (thigh) and linebacker Paul Worrilow (knee) did not practice.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (foot), wide receiver Julio Jones (knee) and wide receiver Roddy White (ankle) all were limited in practice.
Wide receiver Drew Davis (ankle) fully participated in practice.
Third and long: Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was not real happy about the Falcons' major malfunction on defense in a third-and-19 situation against New England.
The Patriots converted when several players didn’t take the proper drops in a five-across, three-deep, play-the-first-down-marker coverage.
“I thought we were playing a real good game for three quarters,” Nolan said. “The first play of the fourth quarter was when we gave up that third-and-long. If anything bothered me, that was probably the most disappointing thing to me because I thought it kind of gave them a little life at that point. Because they were getting ready to punt and all of that because they were backed up.”
Looking at a video review, Dent and nickel back Robert McClain appeared to be at fault, but Nolan said there were “several” players out of position.
“I hate to say it, you’re kind of learning on the go here,” Nolan said. “Some of them haven’t done it as much as others, but we just have to get up to speed quicker, that’s all.”
Rolling left: The Falcons called a rollout to quarterback Matt Ryan's left when they decided to go for a fourth-and-2 against New England.
Throwing back to his right, Ryan missed an open White on the play. It was a similar play to one the Falcons used against Baltimore in a 26-21 victory during the 2010 season.
“It’s a play that we’ve run a lot of times before,” Ryan said. “I just missed it.”
Etc.: Falcons running back Gerald Riggs will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor on Monday night. … Former Falcons quarterback Dave Archer, currently the team's radio color analyst, has the team's career-high passing yardage against the Jets. He passed for 350 yards Nov. 9, 1986. … The Falcons lead the all-time series 6-4.
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