FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons placed rookie running back Jase McClellan on injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday.
McClellan has been dealing with a knee injury, recently appearing on the injury report in Week 13 during the lead-up to the Falcons' Dec. 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He was limited in the Nov. 28 practice but was a non-participant from then on. He was ruled out against the Chargers and then also for last Sunday's Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Because a player on injured reserve is required to miss at least four games, per NFL rules, McClellan will not be able to play in the remainder of the Falcons' regular season.
The Falcons drafted McClellan in the sixth round out of the University of Alabama. He appeared in two games, taking 19 offensive snaps and eight special teams snaps. He had five carries for 17 yards in the Falcons' Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and eight carries for 15 yards in the Falcons' Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos.
In turn, the Falcons signed running back Carlos Washington Jr. to the active roster from the practice squad.
Washington is in his second season with the Falcons after spending last year on the practice squad. He came to Atlanta as an undrafted free agent from Southeastern Louisiana University last year. He has yet to take an active snap in an NFL game. However, Washington played in all three of the Falcons’ preseason games, totaling 29 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown.
These moves come prior to the Falcons' Week 15 game Monday against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
