FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons had a few injuries take place during Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints, and two players were unable to return to the game after getting hurt early in the action.
It was announced early in the second quarter that cornerback Mike Hughes was questionable to return due to a neck injury. He was never officially ruled out but did not return to the field. The prognosis for Hughes appeared to be a positive one after Atlanta's cornerback underwent an MRI Monday.
"He's been cleared and (is) good to go," head coach Raheem Morris said. "So, I expect him to be back with us and doing all the things that he can do for us."
The loss of Hughes Sunday afternoon proved to be an impactful one for Atlanta, which allowed multiple explosive plays through the air after his departure. Marquez-Valdes Scantling was the main downfield target for New Orleans and had three catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, including a 40-yard score and a 67-yard reception. Hughes has played nearly 75% of the snaps for the Falcons' defense this season, and his emergence as the team's No. 2 cornerback is part of the reason Atlanta's secondary has been effective at limiting downfield plays. In his absence, second-year cornerback Clark Phillips III saw his most action of the season with 40 defensive snaps.
Defensive lineman Ta'Quon Graham also injured his pectoral muscle early in the second quarter while making a tackle. He was initially deemed questionable to return as well before ultimately being ruled out of the action just before halftime. Unlike Hughes, the outlook for Graham doesn't appear as optimistic.
"TQ, not so good," Morris said. "... Not great. Obviously he had the injury to his pec, so we'll see what that is."
Graham's season-high in snaps this season came during the Week 4 matchup against the Saints, when he logged 30 plays for the defense. He seemed in line for another active day against New Orleans before leaving after ultimately playing just 11 snaps. In his fourth season, Graham has been a rotational piece for Atlanta's defensive line alongside the likes of Kentavius Street and Zach Harrison.
Hughes and Graham weren't the only Falcons players who left the field on Sunday. Inside linebacker Troy Andersen played limited snaps in his return to the field on Sunday after missing the previous five games with a knee injury. According to Morris on Monday, Andersen "re-aggravated" the injury in the game.
"But we'll get the chance to re-evaluate him today and tomorrow," Morris said, "do some of the things of that nature."
Right guard Chris Lindstrom and defensive lineman James-Smith Williams also left the game briefly before eventually returning. However, while Morris thinks Lindstrom's departure was because "he got the wind knocked out of him," it appears Smith-Williams' injury could have bigger implications for the future.
"JSW went down yesterday and it's not great, either," Morris said. "We'll have some things there we'll have to talk about, reevaluate over the course of the next couple of days with him."
The Falcons' first injury report of the week will come out Wednesday ahead of their Week 11 matchup against the Denver Broncos. That will provide more clarity on Atlanta's health as it begins preparations for its final game before the bye week.
