ATLANTA, GA Ð SEPTEMBER 11: AtlantaÕs defensive unit prepares to take the field during the NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons on September 11th, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)
‘Trending!’ Cordarrelle Patterson and Jeff Okudah are both injured for the Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith updated the status of running back Cordarrelle Patterson and cornerback Jeff Okudah’s injuries.
The Atlanta Falcons opened the 2017 season with a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium… despite the absence of a few key players.
Running back Cordarrelle Patterson and corner Jeff Okudah were both injured, with the former dealing with a thigh issue and the latter still working his way back from an ankle injury suffered during training camp.
However, it appears that Atlanta will get both back this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Here’s the latest from Falcons head coach Arthur Smith…
“Patterson and Okudah keep trending in the right direction,” he added. “We’ll see what Wednesday looks like for both of those guys.”
Atlanta installs the majority of the gameplan for that week on Wednesday and Thursday, thus participation is a good indicator of whether a player will be able to suit up.
Okudah has yet to return to practice after suffering an injury on August 4, but both Smith and associate head coach/defense Jerry Gray feel the former No. 3 overall pick is mentally prepared to return. As a result, his physical health is essentially a waiting game, and he appears to be getting closer.
If Okudah is unable to play, Tre Flowers will most likely start at outside corner. Flowers recorded eight tackles against the Panthers, the fifth time in his six-year career.
Flowers made his first start since Week 18 of the 2021 season on Sunday, with Smith rewarding the 28-year-old for a strong summer.
“Tre had a great camp,” Smith said. “Had a lot of faith in Tre.”
Patterson, 32, was a limited participant in all three practices last week, from Wednesday to Friday, before being declared out on Sunday morning.
The Falcons, on the other hand, released running back and kick returner Godwin Igwebuike on Monday, removing the guy who had replaced Patterson on the roster this weekend. The decision indicates that Atlanta is pleased with Patterson’s health.
In terms of overall team health, Smith stated that the Falcons escaped relatively unscathed, with only a few nameless players experiencing “normal day-after-game soreness and bumps and bruises.”
The Falcons will visit the Packers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m., aiming to include Patterson and Okudah.
