Injuries do not exactly play into the Atlanta Falcons' Super Bowl plans. With a core group of elite players, the time to strike is now and missing one could be detrimental to the overall plan. On Thursday night's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, wide receiver Roddy White went down with an ankle injury and did not return, causing every Atlanta fan to hold their breathe.
White, the team's top receiver, was diagnosed with a low-ankle sprain. According to NFL.com, White will miss some time but would likely play next week if it were the regular season. White has never missed a regular season game in his career. His 128-game streak does not appear to be in jeopardy, but the Falcons are being cautious just in case. So, as white sits, a string of young receivers will get the chance to make their case for getting on the 53-man roster.
Julio Jones and Harry Douglas are the two remaining top receivers with White out. Vying for the fourth spot are players like Drew Davis, Kevin Cone and Marcus Jackson. As training camp continues, Davis is emerging as the best option of the bunch. Davis' stats with the team have never stood out, but he is always good for a couple of quality catches as he does not attract much attention from the defense. Second-year receiver looks comfortable in camp and coaches are noticing.
"I think Drew will always be in our final number," wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie said, via the team website. "He's been with me for a couple of years. He played some games for us last year. ... Drew's already in that mix pretty good because he's been here and he knows how to work. He knows what he's doing and when the whistle blows on Sunday, Drew knows what's expected of him."
Cone is another player to keep an eye out for on the field. Returning for another season, Cone made the most of his limited role with the team last season. While he may not have recorded a catch all season, he was a staple on special teams and was a finalist for the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Behind the two returning, a handful of rookies are trying to make their name known for the right reasons. Martel Moore may have gone undrafted, but he has had a strong training camp, running strong routes and learning behind both White and Jones. Jones has plenty of speed the Falcons could utilize after running a 4.56 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.
White will likely be prepared to start Week 1 of the season against the New Orleans. Without him, the Falcons are still a deadly team. For now, his absence gives several bubble players quality snaps in camp.
