Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was hurting after the NFC Championship game on Sunday and it wasn't just because his team lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
Ryan sprained his left shoulder towards the end of Sunday's 28-24 loss to the 49ers after taking a hit from linebacker Ahmad Brooks. According to ESPN.com, sources said that an MRI exam on Ryan's left shoulder confirmed a Grade 2 AC joint sprain, leaving the quarterback in a sling for approximately 10 days.
Coach Mike Smith said that Ryan will not need surgery and that recovery will take three to four weeks. As a result of the injury, Ryan will miss the upcoming Pro Bowl.
Ryan was hurt with under two minutes left in the game after completing a five-yard pass to running back Jason Snelling to the San Francisco ten-yard line. Brooks hit Ryan on the play, knocking his shoulder down into the turf. On the final drive of the game, the Falcons had a chance at a Hail Mary at the end of the game, but Ryan appeared to be hobbled and completed a pass to Julio Jones, who was tackled as the clock turned to zero. Ryan said his shoulder was "good enough to go" late in the game, despite his injury.
Ryan passed for a team-record 396 yards and three touchdowns, beating out the 366 Jeff George had in 1995. Atlanta had a 17-0 lead in the game, but could not keep Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers from scoring. Ryan set the record, but also had two crucial turnovers, including a fumble late in the game.
Three of the top four quarterbacks on the list, including Ryan, George and Steve Bartkowski all lost their games, while Chris Chandler won his after throwing for 340 in 1998. Chandler was the last quarterback to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl.
Smith said that Ryan would have toughed it out and played in the Super Bowl if the Falcons advanced. He also said the inury should not keep him out of any offseason workouts.
Ryan will also be home for the Pro Bowl after suffering the injury. According to ESPN.com, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will take his place on the roster after being voted as the third alternate. The positon has dealt with a number of injuries, with Drew Brees and Eli Manning replacing Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Wilson is the sixth Seahawks player to go to Hawaii, including offensive linemen Max Unger and Russell Okung, running back Marshawn Lynch, safety Earl Thomas and kick returner Leon Washington.
Other players added to the roster included Atlanta Falcons safeties Thomas DeCoud and William Moore also were added to the NFC roster, replacing San Francisco safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner, who will be preparing for the Super Bowl in two weeks.
Wilson could take home for Rookie of the Year this season after helping the Seahawks make the playoffs. He passed for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing over 64 percent of his passes. Wilson added another 489 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and tied the record for touchdown passes in a season for a rookie.
Wilson was stellar for the Seahawks in the playoffs, passing for 572 yards, including a rookie single-game record 385 yards in a 30-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 13, with three touchdowns and had 127 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Wilson won one game against fellow rookie Robert Griffin and was the last man standing, as Griffin hurt his knee in the game.
Last season Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers criticized the play of the game, saying that no one took it seriously. Commissioner Roger Goodell echoed that sentiment and said that the game could be disbanded if it continues that way.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson echoed that sentiment on Tuesday, saying to reporters that the league is expecting the players to give a respectful effort next Sunday.
"Our hope is that the players will give the same effort and energy that allowed them to become roster members of this Pro Bowl," Anderson said.
There were rumors in the offseason that Roger Goodell might cancel the game after last year's contest wasn't taken seriously. The players and their union discussed the issue and said they wanted to keep it.
"We owe it to our fans, we owe it to our viewers, to give them a little more effort than we did last year," Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman said.
