Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers: Friday Injury Review

The Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers play each other on Sunday, and there are a few key injuries that both teams are dealing with. These injuries will be able to affect the game tremendously as both teams will be missing key starters throughout the game.

The fact that some key players are banged up also allows the rest of each team to show what they are really worth. Both teams are on a pretty even playing field, but the Falcons might have a slight edge due to where their strengths are on the team.

Green Bay Packers Injury Report

The Packers are looking really banged up, especially in their cornerback group that is missing all three of their starters. This will give Julio Jones a shot to go out and try and beat his personal record of 300 yards that he set against the Panthers. Slowing down the pass rush is important too, and hopefully, it’s easier with Clay Matthews not at 100 percent.

The top two running backs on the Packers depth chart are out this week with Eddie Lacy on injured reserve and James Starks out. And the third and fourth options at running back in Don Jackson and Ty Montgomery will be banged up at best for the Packers. Atlanta should be able to no get burned by the Packers running backs.

The other two guys injured for the Packers this week are starting tight end Jared Cook and starting right guard T.J. Lang. With Cook out, the Packers are going to have trouble creating mismatches against the Falcons linebackers. Lang will likely play, but if he’s out, the Falcons might be able to create interior pressure against replacement level backups the Packers have at guard.

Atlanta Falcons Injury Report

Last week, Courtney Upshaw replaced Derrick Shelby effectively in the nickel sets. The bigger question is who and how Tevin Coleman will be replaced this week now that he’s out with a hamstring injury. Atlanta needs to find someone to provide that same kind of explosion that Coleman provided on his runs and catches to help mitigate his loss this week.

Dwight Freeney is listed as questionable with a quad injury. He’s a talented pass rusher and is the Falcons second-best sack artist this season with three sacks. Freeney would be likely replaced in the nickel by Adrian Clayborn off the edge and either Jonathan Babineaux or Grady Jarrett would see snaps as the 3-technique to replace Clayborn if he winds up sliding over.

There are also quite a few guys banged up like Devonta Freeman, Mohamed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, Jake Matthews and C.J. Goodwin. However, the Falcons should have them all in at least 90 percent capacity. The talent is there for Atlanta to take advantage of the Packers bad injury situation and help mitigate their own injury situation this week.