The Atlanta Falcons are preparing to play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday without their leading wide receiver, Drake London, who is recovering from a knee injury. Head coach Raheem Morris addressed London’s status, saying, “He’ll be chomping at the bit probably by Saturday. But he’ll be week to week. Got to protect Drake from Drake, too, at times.”
London suffered a PCL injury in his left knee during the team’s Week 11 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The injury appeared to occur late in regulation and led to him being ruled out for overtime. Morris indicated earlier this week that he does not expect London to play against the Saints. London has missed both Wednesday and Thursday practices.
With London sidelined, other receivers will need to fill the gap. London’s season totals of 60 receptions for 810 yards and six touchdowns surpass those of all other Falcons wide receivers combined. Darnell Mooney, Casey Washington, KhaDarel Hodge, David Sills V, and Ray-Ray McCloud III (who was released in Week 8) have together recorded 35 catches for 447 yards with no touchdowns.
“I think you can get the production from those guys,” Morris said about his receiving corps stepping up in London’s absence. “I think we’re all going to make decisions based on performance. It’s always going to be those ways.
“But you’re definitely going to miss Drake.”
Darnell Mooney has been the next most productive receiver for Atlanta this season but has also missed time due to injuries. He has caught 16 passes for 224 yards so far this year after missing two games.
Mooney joined Atlanta as a free agent before the start of last season and nearly reached 1,000 receiving yards in his first year with the team despite missing a game due to a shoulder injury.
Expectations were high for Mooney entering training camp this year; however, he broke his collarbone on the first day of practice—a detail recently confirmed by Coach Morris—causing him to miss all preseason activities and the opening game of the regular season. Upon returning from that injury, Mooney then sustained a hamstring issue that kept him out of Atlanta’s Week 6 win over Buffalo.
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins commented on Mooney’s situation: “He had a tough, tough hand dealt to him with the collarbone even going back to last season and then training camp,” Cousins said. “So, you kind of have to build from there. I’d love to see him really be able to take off here in the last stretch of the year.”
Cousins recently became Atlanta’s starting quarterback after Michael Penix Jr.’s season-ending injury reserve placement. Last season saw Cousins and Mooney develop strong chemistry on offense.
With seven games remaining and Mooney now healthy again, team officials hope his production will increase significantly down the stretch.
“It feels like Mooney’s close,” said offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
