The Atlanta Falcons have been leaning on veteran cornerback Mike Hughes all season, but they’ll have to make do without him in Week 16. Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed that Hughes is dealing with an ankle sprain and won’t suit up against the Arizona Cardinals. He’s considered “week to week” moving forward, which opens the door for rookie Cobee Bryant to potentially make his first NFL start.
Hughes may not be a headline name, but his impact on the Falcons’ defense has been undeniable. In what’s shaping up to be the second-best statistical season of his career, Hughes has allowed just a 56.9% completion rate and has broken up seven passes.
Sure, he’s given up five touchdowns and his allowed QBR isn’t ideal, but he’s been a steady presence opposite A.J. Terrell - a veteran corner holding the line in a secondary that’s been battered by injuries.
Now, with Hughes sidelined, the Falcons are turning to Bryant - an undrafted rookie out of Kansas - to step up in a big way. He saw extended action last week when Hughes exited early against the Buccaneers, and it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride.
Bryant was thrown into the fire against a returning Mike Evans, who wasted no time getting back to form. Evans torched the Falcons for 132 yards on six catches, including a 45-yard deep ball that could’ve gone for six if it had been better thrown.
That game was Bryant’s real “welcome to the NFL” moment, and it raised some serious questions about Atlanta’s cornerback depth. While Bryant had a productive college career - 11 interceptions and three forced fumbles over his final three seasons, plus three First Team All-Big 12 selections - he wasn’t a top draft prospect, and it’s clear he’s still adjusting to the speed and complexity of the pro game.
The timing of Hughes’ injury couldn’t be worse for a Falcons secondary already stretched thin. Rookie Billy Bowman Jr., who had been a bright spot earlier in the year, is out for the season after tearing his Achilles.
Clark Phillips has been sidelined for two months and isn’t expected back anytime soon. That leaves the Falcons scrambling for answers in the defensive backfield - and they’re about to be tested again.
This week, they’ll face the Arizona Cardinals - a team with just one win in their last 12 games, but one that still has some firepower on offense. Tight end Trey McBride has emerged as a reliable target, and wide receiver Michael Wilson is heating up at the right time.
Over the last five games, Wilson is averaging 13 targets and 107 yards per outing. If Marvin Harrison Jr. is healthy enough to return, it only adds another layer of concern for Atlanta’s depleted secondary.
Bryant is likely to see a lot of Wilson on Sunday, and that’s a matchup that could swing the game - for better or worse. It’s a tall task for a rookie corner still finding his footing, but with few other options available, the Falcons don’t have much choice. This isn’t just a depth test - it’s a full-blown stress test for a secondary that’s running out of reinforcements.
If the Falcons want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they’ll need someone in that secondary - Bryant, Terrell, or someone else - to step up and hold the line. Because while Arizona’s defense might be among the worst in the league, their passing game is good enough to make Atlanta pay if the coverage isn’t there.