Drake London’s rough afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t end with the final whistle.
On Saturday, the NFL fined the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver $12,537 for an unnecessary roughness penalty. The league classified the infraction as “striking/kicking/kneeling.”
The penalty came on a play where London was going up for a pass from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The throw was picked off, though Atlanta did manage to get the ball back a couple of plays later when Tampa Bay fumbled.
It was a quiet day for London in the box score, too. He finished with one catch for eight yards on six targets as the Falcons were shut out in a 16-0 loss.
That defeat was ugly across the board for Atlanta. Penix threw four interceptions, including three in the first half, and the Falcons’ defense had no answer for the ground game, giving up 322 rushing yards.
Now Atlanta is turning the page to a matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain, and London said the team is trying to clean up what went wrong.
“Everything that we are watching, the main things (coaches) will say is, 'This may hurt your feelings, but it's the God honest truth,'” London said, per Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. “That's what needs to be said for us to get better as a team. So, no hard feelings, but we looked at it in an honest way, and we pushed past it, and we're trying to fix it.”
Through eight games, London has 39 catches for 624 yards and one touchdown. The Falcons are 3-5 and sit half a game behind the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South race.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 9 Depth Chart Problem In Madrid
The Falcons trip to Madrid has already brought a little roster churn, with the team moving edge rushers Drake Jackson and Jared Ivey off the 53-man roster and onto the practice squad ahead of Week 9 against the Bengals. It is the kind of adjustment that usually signals a team trying to keep its depth intact for the long haul, but in this case it also reflects a defense that is suddenly juggling availability at a key spot.
Samson Ebukam has landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while James Pearce Jr. is back from suspension but still listed as questionable because of a back issue. On the other side of the ball, the Falcons will be without wide receiver Zachariah Branch and running back Brian Robinson Jr., leaving Olamide Zaccheaus and Khalil Herbert in line for bigger roles as Atlanta tries to sort out a thin depth chart in an unusual setting. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Backfield Takes A Hit Right Before Bengals Matchup
The Falcons backfield depth took a hit just as they turn the page toward a Week 9 meeting with the Bengals in Spain. Brian Robinson Jr. has been placed on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury, leaving Atlanta to navigate at least the next four weeks without one of its running backs as the team prepares for the second regular-season NFL game ever played in Spain.
Atlanta moved quickly to fill the spot, signing Khalil Herbert from the practice squad to give the roster another option behind the remaining backs. It is the kind of adjustment that can matter even more on a trip like this, where the Falcons are already dealing with the usual travel and preparation challenges before facing Cincinnati on an international stage. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Should Avoid This Trade Deadline Temptation
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Falcons are being linked to a tempting name at wide receiver, and the idea makes some sense on the surface. Atlanta has already committed significant money to its core, which makes any big swing harder to justify, and the front office has to balance urgency with the reality of its draft capital and salary cap.
ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the possibility of the receiver being available, but there are enough reasons for Atlanta to stay cautious. The fit comes with questions beyond the on-field talent, including concerns about character and the kind of premium price a trade would demand, which is why this looks more like a rumor worth monitoring than a move the Falcons are likely to make. [Read more 🡒]