Falcons breathe sigh of relief as London, Mooney, and Hellams return to practice
The Atlanta Falcons are regrouping after a narrowly contested defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday. The loss stung, not just for the outcome but also due to the injury scare involving wide receiver Drake London. He went down with an arm injury during the final minutes of the game, raising immediate concerns about his status moving forward. London, who is on the cusp of a lucrative contract extension, is crucial to the Falcons’ offense. As one analyst noted, “If Drake balls out like we think he will… $34-35M/APY easy.”
Injury Challenges for the Falcons
The Falcons faced additional challenges with several key contributors sidelined. Alongside London, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and safety DeMarcco Hellams were also absent from action. Mooney has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during training camp, an incident that has kept him off the field. His status was uncertain leading up to the game against the Buccaneers, with reports indicating he was a game-time decision.
Falcons insider Tori McElhaney explained the team’s approach regarding Mooney’s readiness, emphasizing that they were more focused on whether he was mentally prepared for game action rather than just his physical recovery. “Said a lot of what the Falcons are looking for to decide on Mooney’s status is whether he is game-ready. Not really working through anything physically with the shoulder, more about having been off the grass for a month,” she reported.
Hellams, who was expected to play a significant role in both the secondary and on special teams, also found himself on the injury report late in the week. His absence from the season opener raised questions about his availability for the upcoming contests. “The third-year safety, who is expected to be a rotational piece for the secondary and special teams contributor, was a recent addition to the injury report this week. His status for Sunday’s game is in question after missing Thursday’s practice,” wrote Garrett Chapman.
Positive News Ahead of Vikings Clash
In a turn of good fortune, the Falcons received encouraging news on Wednesday. All three players—London, Mooney, and Hellams—returned to practice, a development that sparked optimism within the organization. McElhaney announced, “Drake London, Darnell Mooney, DeMarcco Hellams will all be practicing today.”
The return of these key players is a significant boost for the Falcons as they prepare for a critical Sunday night matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The potential availability of London and Mooney is particularly vital, as both have the ability to make substantial impacts on the field. With the week still ahead of them, the Falcons will be keeping a close eye on their health as they aim to secure a much-needed victory.
