NFL Overreactions Week 13
USAT’s Prince Grimes gives a quick Thanksgiving recap, and breaks down the best games from NFL Week 13.
Sports Seriously
Some good news is coming for the Atlanta Falcons, even if it may be too late to save their season and playoff hopes.
Head coach Raheem Morris told reporters on Dec. 1 that Drake London may be nearing a return after missing two games with a knee injury. London had put together three straight 100-yard games before sustaining the malady at the end of Atlanta’s Week 11 game against the Carolina Panthers.
While the Falcons‘ top receiver may return soon, their starting quarterback will not. Michael Penix Jr. has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a partial ACL tear. Meanwhile, Atlanta is 4-8 – three games behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division lead, which is its only likely path to the postseason.
Regardless of the Falcons’ long-term outlook, London’s return could provide a spark for the team to finish on a high note. For fantasy managers, it could be what gives their team a final push to a league championship this year.
Here’s what to know about London’s injury status in Week 14:
When will Drake London return?
Morris, the Falcons’ head coach, told reporters on Dec. 1 that London’s status has been upgraded from week-to-week to day-to-day. That suggests Atlanta’s top wide receiver could return to the field as early as Week 14’s clash with the Seattle Seahawks.
London has missed two full games – and overtime of another – while dealing with a knee injury he suffered in Week 11. That’s brought his total to three missed games this season after he was held out in Week 8 with a hip injury. The fourth-year wideout had never missed more than one game in a season prior to this year.
As injury reports for Week 14 begin on Wednesday, Dec. 3, London’s availability will become clearer. If he does return this week, it will be with Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins throwing London the ball with Penix out for the season with a partially torn ACL.
Drake London stats
London had recorded at least 100 yards in each of the three games prior to suffering his knee injury. Here’s how his stats look through 13 weeks and nine games played:
Targets: 94Receptions: 60Receiving yards: 810Yards/reception: 13.5Touchdowns: 6
London’s 13.5 yards per catch would be a career high in a single season. The Falcons’ leading receiver is averaging exactly 90 yards per game and could still be on pace to reach the 1,000-yard mark for a second straight year if he returns soon. He’s also three touchdowns shy of matching his career high of nine, which he set last year.