by The Atlanta Falcons running back rotation is on the verge of getting one of their veteran presences back.
After starting the season with Cordarrelle Patterson, 31, and Damien Williams, 30, atop the depth chart, the Falcons entered a Week 5 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with rookie Tyler Allgeier and second-year pros Caleb Huntley and Avery Williams as unique. active runs.
Damien Williams was placed on injured reserve with a rib injury after Week 1, while Patterson was listed a week ago after knee surgery.
Williams suffered the injury against the New Orleans Saints when center Drew Dallman and right guard Chris Lindstrom fell on him at the line of scrimmage. He later reentered the game in the final seconds and was questionable for much of the next week, but Atlanta ultimately decided to place him on injured reserve.
Atlanta currently owns the third-best offense in the NFL, in large part because of Patterson, who ranks fourth in the league in rushing yards per game with 85. However, in the first game without Patterson, the Falcons managed to 150 yards against Tampa Bay, as well as all three running backs and quarterback Marcus Mariota combined to post a productive afternoon on the ground.
The ground game has been the Falcons’ strength all season, even though they don’t have their full array of weapons. However, Atlanta is on the verge of getting one of its ball carriers back.
“I think (Williams) is getting closer,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “I trust him and the specialists, so we’ll just have to see how he goes as the week goes on. I think he’s close, but we’ll have to see.”
Williams is eligible to be designated to return from injured reserve this week as the required four weeks out is over – but is his body up to par?
According to ESPN, Williams “said mentally he’s ready to go, but he’s got to be smart physically and he’s got to continue to see how he feels” before he’s ready to return. Additionally, Williams has participated in team meetings and should be ready once he returns, making his transition into the rotation that much easier.
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Patterson, meanwhile, has three more weeks before he can be activated. The positive aspect about his injury is that Smith and the Falcons believe Patterson will be ready to go when the window opens, and surgery is what the team believed was the best long-term option to maximize health and the efficiency of the veteran runner.
Last Wednesday — Atlanta’s first day of practice of the week — the Falcons designated cornerback Isaiah Oliver to return and he participated in pregame team activities, though he ultimately did not play Sunday.
With Williams already mentally ready to return, the last box to check is the most important — his physical fitness, which is why he’s starting with an injury.
If Williams can return this week, he will do so against a vaunted San Francisco 49ers defense that has allowed the fewest total points and rushing yards so far this season. Atlanta would certainly appreciate Williams’ veteran presence, but if not, the young running backs who stepped up against Tampa Bay will get another chance to prove they can carry the load.
Kick-off between Atlanta and San Francisco is set for 1pm at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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