FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons (5-3) held their first on-field practice session of Week 9 on Wednesday as they begin preparations for Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys (3-4).
A number of starters were either limited in the practice or held out altogether due to injures. Seven players were listed as limited on the team's first injury report, including inside linebackers Troy Andersen and Kaden Elliss and safety Justin Simmons. Andersen has missed the team's last four games due to a knee injury he sustained against New Orleans in Week 4, while Simmons was held out of the Falcons' Week 8 win against Tampa Bay due to a hamstring injury.
Three players did not participate in Wednesday's practice, two of whom are rookies. Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom missed the session due to a knee injury, linebacker JD Bertrand was held out due to a concussion and defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro was out with an ankle injury. All three players were hurt during Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Following the game, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris provided this update on Lindstrom: "Yeah, I know he was cleared to come back. It didn't make sense at that point in the game to put him back out there, so he was cleared to come back in and [it was a] coach's decision to leave him out the rest of the game."
There was a bit of good news on the Falcons' injury front Wednesday. Starting center Drew Dalman was designated to return from injured reserve, beginning a 21-day practice window during which he can rejoin the team on the field. At the end of those 21 days, the Falcons must either activate him back to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve. Dalman was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday.
Below, you can view the Falcons' full injury report.
Full Participation
- N/A
Limited Participation
- OLB Matthew Judon (rest)
- S Justin Simmons (hamstring)
- CB Antonio Hamilton Sr. (back)
- ILB Troy Andersen (knee)
- DL James Smith-Williams (rest)
- ILB Kaden Elliss (knee)
- C Drew Dalman (ankle)
Did Not Participate
- JD Bertrand (concussion)
- G Chris Lindstrom (knee)
- DL Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle)
