In a division this tight, the injury report can matter almost as much as the standings, and right now the NFC South is stacking up badly for Atlanta’s rivals.
Three weeks into the season, every team in the division has taken hits, and the Falcons have had their own share of them. Michael Penix Jr. missed the first two weeks, and CB A.J.
Terrell Jr. is now on injured reserve. Even so, the latest round of injuries around the South could give Atlanta a real opening if it handles its business.
The Saints, who host the Falcons in Week 4 on Monday night, are dealing with trouble on both sides of the ball. Former Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss is out, along with edge rusher Carl Granderson and linebacker Anfernee Jennings, which leaves New Orleans short several key pieces in its front seven. That’s a problem with Bijan Robinson and Atlanta’s rushing attack coming to town.
New Orleans has also lost wide receiver Jordan Tyson earlier this summer and running back Travis Etienne Jr. to injured reserve, so Tyler Shough and Chris Olave are going to be carrying a heavier load for the Saints offense over the next several weeks.
Carolina’s injury situation is ugly in a different way. The Panthers have lost both Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn to injured reserve, stripping away two starting corners and making an already difficult defensive assignment even tougher. The Panthers will need answers in that secondary fast.
The Panthers are also thin on offense. Damien Lewis is out at starting guard, Xavier Legette is a depth receiver loss, and Jalen Coker is dealing with nagging injuries that shouldn’t keep him out Sunday.
Tampa Bay may have the biggest hole of all. The 0-3 Buccaneers are without quarterback Baker Mayfield indefinitely because of a thumb injury, and that leaves the offense in the hands of a rookie undrafted free agent, Jalon Daniels. On top of that, the Bucs are missing cornerback Benjamin Morrison, first-round edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who is on injured reserve.
Atlanta, meanwhile, comes off a statement win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 and seems to be settling into an identity on both sides of the ball. With Penix back, the offense has plenty of buzz, and Jeff Ulbrich’s run defense has quickly become one of the team’s strongest traits.
Nobody looks ready to sprint away with the NFC South, and that makes every shorthanded opponent a chance the Falcons have to cash in. The division race is going to be decided by small edges, and if Atlanta keeps playing complementary football and takes advantage when others are missing key pieces, it can put itself in a strong spot as things start to tighten up.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face A Bigger Baker Mayfield Problem Than Expected
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has turned into a much bigger issue for the Buccaneers than a short-term scare. The veteran quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss multiple games, with his return hinging on how quickly he regains grip strength. For Tampa Bay, the timing is especially tricky because Mayfield had been in the middle of another season as the teams starter after appearing in three games so far.
The immediate answer is rookie Jalon Daniels, who has been named the backup and will start while Mayfield is out. It puts an abrupt spotlight on Tampa Bays quarterback depth and raises the stakes around how the offense functions without the player the Buccaneers signed to a multi-year deal. The bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how long the team has to live without Mayfield and what kind of shape he is in when he finally returns. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fan Goes Viral For A Gameday Moment Bucs Fans Pounced On
A gameday photo from the Packers-Buccaneers matchup quickly took on a life of its own, with a Green Bay fan in a cheese-themed outfit drawing plenty of attention on social media. Buccaneers fans, already tuned into a rough start for their own team, jumped on the image and helped turn a random moment from the stands into one of the evenings louder online talking points.
It fit the mood around Tampa Bay, where the Bucs came in at 0-3 and were turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback because of Baker Mayfields injury. Green Bay arrived at 1-2, but the game was about more than the records for Tampa Bay supporters, who had little patience to spare and plenty of time to notice, and react to, anything that stood out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Became The Center Of Tampa Bay's Biggest Debate
The Buccaneers slow start has pushed Todd Bowles into the middle of a conversation nobody in Tampa Bay wanted to have this early. At 0-4, with a 3-12 record stretching back to last season, the losses are piling up fast enough to turn every miscue into a referendum on direction, execution and leadership. Bowles stepped to the podium after the latest setback and owned the mess, taking responsibility while insisting he still believes he can guide the team out of it.
Bowles has handled the public side of the slump the way a veteran coach usually does, but the frustration around the team is only growing because so many of the defeats have stayed within reach. Close games tend to sharpen the focus on the head coach, and if the Buccaneers keep coming up short in those spots, the accountability debate will only get louder. For now, Bowles is asking for patience, even as the results make that a harder sell by the week. [Read more 🡒]