The Falcons’ afternoon in Carolina took another hit when A.J. Terrell exited early with an injury, leaving Atlanta without its top cornerback in the middle of an already rough NFC South opener.
Terrell left in the first quarter while covering Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan. He went up to break up a pass that still fell incomplete, then went to the ground holding his midsection. After walking off, he headed into the blue tent to be checked by trainers.
Falcons on SI reporter Darius Hayes reported that Terrell was evaluated for a concussion, cleared, and then noted to have suffered a groin injury. He is doubtful to return to the Week 2 game as Atlanta hosts its home opener in his hometown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The injury adds to a frustrating start for the seventh-year veteran. Terrell had already been dealing with a shoulder issue from Atlanta’s 20-13 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he was hurt while matched up with DK Metcalf. He left briefly in that game before coming back.
Terrell entered Sunday listed as questionable, but he still suited up and recorded a tackle and a pass deflection before leaving again.
Without him, the Falcons’ secondary will need more from Avieon Terrell, Mike Hughes, and CJ Henderson.
Atlanta has also had trouble containing Bryce Young in this divisional matchup over the years, and that pattern was showing again by halftime. The Falcons trailed 20-3 after Cooper Rush nearly threw a third-down interception, prompting Atlanta to settle for a 41-yard Nick Folk field goal.
The defense had been hanging around, but Carolina landed a 55-yard completion from Young to Xavier Legette to get deep into scoring range. Young finished the sequence with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Darren Waller.
Atlanta’s defense has been put in difficult spots by two turnovers from Rush and by an offense that keeps stalling on short drives. And now the Panthers get the ball to start the second half.
In Other News...
Falcons Created A Quarterback Problem They Never Should Have Had
Atlantas quarterback picture got messy fast in Week 2, and it was a mess the Falcons helped create. With Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa dealing with injuries, the team turned to Cooper Rush to start against the Panthers, a move that quickly became a referendum on how the situation was handled from the outset. Rush struggled enough that Atlanta had to keep searching for a better answer as the game wore on.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Falcons finally made the switch to undrafted rookie Jack Strand, a move that only added another layer to the frustration. Strands first extended action ended almost immediately with a pick-six, turning a bad quarterback day into a harder one to defend. The bigger issue now is not just who was under center, but how Atlanta arrived at a point where it had to improvise on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than Just An 0-2 Start
The Falcons Week 2 home loss to the Panthers brought a familiar kind of frustration on the scoreboard, but it also left Atlanta dealing with a more immediate concern. Falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2020 is one thing; watching the offense sputter badly enough to trigger a quarterback change in the middle of the game is another, and it underscored how quickly the seasons early narrative has turned.
Bryce Young and Carolina added to the discomfort, with the Panthers quarterback continuing to give Atlanta problems and the Falcons defense struggling to slow him down. The injury situation made the afternoon even messier, with A.J. Terrell leaving with a groin issue and not returning, while other Falcons also went down, giving the team plenty to sort through before the week even turns. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Londons Frustration Said Everything About Atlantas Offensive Mess
Drake Londons body language said plenty Sunday in Atlantas home opener, where the Falcons fell into a deep hole against Carolina and never found much rhythm on offense. The third-year receiver, fresh off a four-year, $141 million extension, was shown on the sideline looking visibly frustrated as the Falcons attack sputtered around him, turning the ball over four times and settling for just one field goal.
London finished with two catches for 29 yards, a modest line that fit the larger story of an offense that looked out of sync from the start. With Cooper Rush starting because of injuries to Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback picture remains unsettled, and the larger concern for Atlanta is whether there is any quick fix for an offense that has already started to feel stuck. [Read more 🡒]