The Atlanta Falcons are preparing to play without wide receiver Drake London in their upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Raheem Morris indicated that London, who suffered a PCL injury in his left knee during last week’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, is unlikely to return this week.
“He’ll be chomping at the bit probably by Saturday,” Morris said. “But he’ll be week to week. Got to protect Drake from Drake, too, at times.”
London was injured late in regulation and did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday. He currently leads the Falcons with 60 receptions for 810 yards and six touchdowns—more than all other Falcons wide receivers combined.
With London sidelined, the team will look for increased production from its remaining receivers: Darnell Mooney, Casey Washington, KhaDarel Hodge, David Sills V, and Ray-Ray McCloud III (who was released earlier this season). Together, these players have recorded 35 catches for 447 yards without any touchdowns.
“I think you can get the production from those guys,” Morris said. “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.”
Mooney has been the team’s second-most productive receiver this season despite missing two games due to injury. He has caught 16 passes for 224 yards so far this year. Last season, after joining Atlanta as a free agent, Mooney nearly reached 1,000 receiving yards but fell just short due to missing time with a shoulder injury.
This year began with high expectations for Mooney during training camp; however, he broke his collarbone on the first day of practice and missed both preseason and the season opener. After returning from that injury, he then missed another game with a hamstring issue.
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins commented on Mooney’s challenging run of injuries: “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. was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. The team hopes that Cousins’ connection with Mooney can help boost offensive output over their final seven games now that Mooney is healthy.
“It feels like Mooney’s close,” offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said.
