Falcons head coach Mike Smith held up his arms during his Monday press conference and told the media that the team has a list "this long" of players banged up after six weeks of the regular season.
With six players on season-ending injured reserve, one on injured reserve with the designation to return and two more on the physically unable to perform list, the Falcons certainly have a list of players that could fill up the space Smith gestured with his arms.
Several players, however, are gutting it out and performing despite being banged up, and Smith gave an update on them Monday.
Left tackle Jake Matthews had a rough outing Sunday against the Bears after spending most of the previous week limited in practice because of a nagging ankle injury. Smith said the rookie has been holding his own and fighting through some pain with the ankle.
The Falcons are back in the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon to take on the Chicago Bears. The players and coaches will wear pink to raise awareness for breast cancer.
QB Matt Ryan
RB Antone Smith celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Julio Jones and TE Levine Toilolo
WR Devin Hester
TE Levine Toilolo makes a catch.
RB Antone Smith runs the ball.
LS Josh Harris makes a tackle on special teams.
T Jake Matthews warming up before the game.
DT Jonathan Babineaux fights through the line.
Head Coach Mike Smith
QB Matt Ryan
WR Devin Hester catches a pass during warm-up.
QB Matt Ryan warms up his arm before the game
The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears
DE Jonathan Massaquoi celebrates a play
S Dezmen Southward tackles Bears TE Martellus Bennett
WR Eric Weems rallies the Falcons during pregame
FS Dwight Lowery
DT Jonathan Babineaux
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
CB Robert McClain celebrates a play
Atlanta Falcons Drumline
DE Ra'Shede Hageman blocking on the line
RB Devonta Freeman and DE Malliciah Goodman
RB Steven Jackson
WR Devin Hester
QB Matt Ryan
The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears
Freddie Falcon
Falcons win the coin toss
The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears
RB Steven Jackson
QB Matt Ryan
K Matt Bryant
S Dezmen Southward tackles Bears WR Chris Williams
LB Paul Worrilow
DT Jonathan Babineaux closes in on Bears QB Jay Cutler
LB Paul Worrilow takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler
WR Roddy White celebrates a touchdown with RB Antone Smith
CB Josh Wilson and LB Paul Worrilow work to bring down Bears RB Matt Forte
LB Paul Worrilow tackles Bears RB Matt Forte
DE Kroy Biermann puts pressure on Bears QB Jay Cutler
CB Robert McClain defends against Bears WR Brandon Marshall
WR Devin Hester runs the ball after a reception.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball during the first half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow tackles the Chicago ball carrier during the first half of play.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi
DT Corey Peters lines up on defense before the ball is snapped.
QB Matt Ryan yells out an audible during the first half of play.
LB Joplo Bartu and CB Desmond Trufant combine to tackle Bears RB Matt Forte.
RB Steven Jackson runs the ball through several Chicago defenders.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi and DE Osi Umenyiora celebrate after making a big defensive play.
WR Roddy White
RB Antone Smith
CB Robert McClain and DE Kroy Biermann work to take down Bears QB Jay Cutler
Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank greets Bears head coach Marc Trestman
RB Antone Smith
WR Julio Jones
S Dwight Lowery defends against Bears TE Martellus Bennett
RB Antone Smith lines up behind T Jake Matthews
T Jake Matthews blocks for RB Antone Smith
RB Antone Smith
RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball.
WR Roddy White runs after making a reception.
RB Antone Smith runs for a touchdown during the second half of play.
RB Antone Smith runs for a touchdown during the second half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow lines up one defense.
QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball from C Peter Konz.
QB Matt Ryan throws a pass during the second half of play.
DT Paul Soliai tackles Bears RB Matt Forté during the second half of play.
RB Steven Jackson runs through several Bears defenders.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball during the second half of play.
QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball from C Peter Konz.
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
QB Matt Ryan speaks with former NFL QB Joe Theismann on the sideline prior to the start of the game.
CB Desmond Trufant
DE Jonathan Massaquoi takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler
DE Jonathan Massaquoi takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time
Miles College Marching Band
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
QB Matt Ryan
QB Matt Ryan
QB Matt Ryan
QB Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
RB Devonta Freeman exchanges jerseys with Bears LB Christian Jones, who also played for Florida State University
RB Devonta Freeman exchanges jerseys with Bears LB Christian Jones, who also played for Florida State University
WR Julio Jones and WR Eric Weems talk to Bears WR Brandon Marshall after the game
"Jake has done a very good job of dealing with that ankle all through this season," Smith said. "I'm not going to say that it's affecting his play. I think that he's toughing it out in practice and in the games."
Rookie linebacker Prince Shembo, who did not play in Sunday's game despite being listed as probable, was held out due to a knee injury that has been indicated on the injury report the past two weeks. Shembo had been moved into the starting spot on the unofficial depth chart last week, but Joplo Bartu took over in the spot with the injury to Shembo.
Wide receiver Harry Douglas has now missed three straight games with a foot injury suffered in a Week 3 win, but an update was not available Monday on his condition.
Smith said that wide receiver Drew Davis, on the team's physically unable to perform list since before training camp, has been working with trainers and his workload is expected to increase this week. The team, he said, will continue to monitor his condition.
