Atlanta Falcons: Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is out for the Saints game
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson kicks up his heels reacting as the defenses makes a big stop on Cowboys running back Phillip Tanner on third down forcing Dallas to punt on fourth down in the final minutes of the first half at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. The Falcons drove for a field goal after the play to tie the game 6-6 at the half. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
FLOWERY BRANCH –Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is out for Sunday’s Saints game, head coach Mike Smith announced after practice Thursday.
“We felt like Sean would be a real, real stretch these first two weeks,” Smith said. “We feel like he’s making progress, but he won’t play in the ball game this week.”
Weatherspoon, wide receiver Kevin Cone (groin) and safety Charles Mitchell (calf) did not practice on Thursday.
“He’ll be looking to get back out there the first part of next week,” Smith said. “We’ll keep him in the training room the rest of this week.”
Smith also declared Cone out for the game.
Running back Jason Snelling (illness), cornerback Asante Samuel (hip) and tackle Sam Baker (ankle) fully participated in practice. Snelling didn’t practice on Wednesday and Samuel and Baker were limited.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (hamstring), wide receiver Harry Douglas (ankle) and defensive tackle Peria Jerry (knee) were limited. Defensive end John Abraham (elbow) fully participated in practice.
Weatherspoon was hurt on a tackle attempt against Eagles running back LeSean McCoy with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s 30-17 victory over Philadelphia. He didn’t play last week against Dallas.
Akeem Dent continued to work with the starters in place of Weatherspoon in the nickel defense. Veteran Mike Peterson took over Weatherspoon’s weakside linebacker spot in the base defense.
Against Dallas, Dent was tied for the team lead with seven tackles. He played all 57 defensive snaps. Peterson played 16 of 57 (28 percent) snaps against the Cowboys.
Saints players who sat out practice were defensive end Junior Galette (ankle), wide receiver Courtney Roby (shoulder), running back Darren Sproles (hand) and tackle Zach Strief (groin).
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41 comments Add your comment
Kurtis
November 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
Dang.
Sam
November 8th, 2012
5:07 pm
so who’s going to stop mighty Jimmy Graham? NOOOOOOO!!! we can’t have taints snap our streak! fingers crossed!
Section242
November 8th, 2012
5:13 pm
I would rather have Spoon healthy in January. If we are going to make a run, his presence is essential to the D.
Mike Franklin
November 8th, 2012
5:18 pm
What is with this gawd awful publication that readers and Falcons fans cannot use the word ‘S*A*I*N*T*S’ in a flippen comment?????
This is nothing short of… sports treason!
Who was the genius that thought this up????????
Mike Franklin
November 8th, 2012
5:19 pm
ODL, as an employee of this bloody rag, you owe us an explanation for the S*A*I*N*T*S word inquisition. Who is behind this???????.
Oh'man
November 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
I had literally had about thirty ankle injury playing sports of all kind, and I can assure you some of them were worse than Weatherspoon. My ankle looked like there were two tennis balls in them and I was still able to play hard within three days. The players these days are too soft!
Answer This
November 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
Is the ankle that bad? What the heck man!
Burdell
November 8th, 2012
5:29 pm
“I had literally had about thirty ankle injury playing sports of all kind”
Didn’t waste a lot of time in the classroom did ya?
I can think of several words for ‘Spoon and soft isn’t one of them…
nobody
November 8th, 2012
5:37 pm
At least sproles isn’t playing
Snowman
November 8th, 2012
5:39 pm
Agree with the above post, we need him healthy for December > January
inkspot
November 8th, 2012
5:41 pm
Tough not having Spoon for this game. We need that guy out there. He’s the prototype smart, fast, hard-hitting LB. Love the enthusiasm he brings to this Falcons team. Get well soon, Sean Weatherspoon!
stei
November 8th, 2012
5:44 pm
HAHAHA…now what failcons ? Your best player on defense is out.
Teddy KGB
November 8th, 2012
5:54 pm
@ stei
At least the Falcons have a best player on defense. They also have 10 othger players on defense that are better than their Saint counterparts. The Falcons alsohave a superior D Coordinator.
kevkat
November 8th, 2012
6:33 pm
wow..I thought maybe his ankle injury wasn’t that serious considering he wasn’t wearing a boot after the game…apparently it was…
Post-it
November 8th, 2012
6:58 pm
@stei
Our best player on defense was out last week against the Cowboys and we held them to 13 points. Your team’s sorry defense is going to allow the most points in the history of the league.
Esquire
November 8th, 2012
7:30 pm
Section242
November 8th, 2012
5:13 pm
I would rather have Spoon healthy in January. If we are going to make a run, his presence is essential to the D.
************************************
yep
Esquire
November 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
stei
November 8th, 2012
5:44 pm
HAHAHA…now what failcons ? Your best player on defense is out.
********************************************
Actually, and here is where you will be enlightened, our best player on defense is THE TEAM. One goes down …………another steps up. That is why we are the
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS!!
now what you ask? Now we kick your little ass back to Baton Rouge boy.
Decon
November 8th, 2012
7:43 pm
Had Darren Sproles been playing, this would be bigger than what it is. Mike Peterson and Dent will get the job done. They held Dallas to 6 points until the final 5 mintues of the game and Dallas has weapons on offense. Falcons are going to win this game.
Nativebird
November 8th, 2012
8:19 pm
This is the kind of BS that this team management constantly plays every single year. They BS the fans so they will keep buying the tickets. I GuARantee you that they knew spoon was going to miss two games last week! But they sit they and give you this crap about week to week. Be straight with us! There’s a good chance I bet you that this guy is out for much longer, THE FANS SHOULD BE TOLD THE TRUTH. This is BS.
Wendell
November 8th, 2012
8:49 pm
Native: the game is in New Orleans on Sunday. Don’t think they were too concerned about selling tickets. Dummy.
yellowfever
November 8th, 2012
9:01 pm
Nativebird, you beat me to it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was out for the rest of the year knowing how the Falcons go about their business.
bobbyg
November 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
what happend to the linebacker shciller that played so well in preseason
bobbyg
November 8th, 2012
9:15 pm
it seems to that they should have kept schiller
1990_Champs_GT
November 8th, 2012
9:26 pm
Aints still have a good “O,” but their lack of “D” will be the difference. Ryan will control the tempo and the ball just like the Eagles game.
Just another “desperate team” in a “must-win situation” to slap back this Sunday. Maybe we’ll be nice, take out trash before halftime and move on to the next.
Next Man Up
November 8th, 2012
11:04 pm
From what I’ve seen, Peria has always been “limited”. What ever happened to Ray Edwards? Needs to give money back. The rest of team rocks.
Joshua
November 8th, 2012
11:50 pm
falcons will lose
Joshua
November 8th, 2012
11:52 pm
Matt ryan is the most overrated game manager I’ve ever seen
irish kevin
November 9th, 2012
1:00 am
my ankle hurts, real falcons will be on the field sunday, not cheerleading 4 the second week
@Joshua
November 9th, 2012
3:37 am
You are a poor substitute for Choke. At least put some effort into it.
Samuel
November 9th, 2012
7:23 am
So what- next man up, We as Falcon fans would like to see Weatherspoon playing. But now we know he can’t go, so somebody needs to step-up and make a name for themselves.
Whadda Ya Know?
November 9th, 2012
7:23 am
Next man up. Dent you better play disciplined ball and don’t get gobbled up by lineman. Falcons Rise Up!
Samuel
November 9th, 2012
7:27 am
Joshau your’e not very smart. Everything that you write is negative. The Media and everybody but you can see, Matt Ryan is playing some of his best football. You big Dummy…………………
Big Daddy
November 9th, 2012
9:13 am
The Falcons have played some really inspired defense this year. I look for them to really get after breeze and not let him sit in the pocket too long. Matt needs to have a really great game and make all of our red zone appearances count. GO FALCONS!!!!!
Big Daddy
November 9th, 2012
9:15 am
I meant Brees
North FLA Falcon
November 9th, 2012
9:59 am
Peterson and Dent have stepped up. Falcons win in a shootout. 34-31.
Wendell
November 9th, 2012
10:19 am
Falcons won’t give up 31 points to the Aints.
Falcons 27- Aints 13
Flo-Ri-Duh
November 9th, 2012
10:35 am
Ankle injuries take time to heal….. rushing back could cause a season long injury. Falcons have enough cushion to let Spoon rest. Good idea.
North FLA Falcon
November 9th, 2012
10:35 am
Wendell we need to get out in front early and control the game. Convert 3rd downs and in the red zone. Limit their big plays. They still have a very potent offense.
Joe
November 9th, 2012
11:48 am
Activate Pat Schiller!! He is a hungry BEAST!!
StuDirtyBird
November 9th, 2012
12:08 pm
Yeah I would like to have him healthy in the post-seaon too, but as mush as he gets injured, what makes you think he wont get injured again before then?
SirReal
November 9th, 2012
12:14 pm
I hate we dont have Spoon but I love that we have Mike Nolan now instead of Brian Van Garbage. Enough said.