FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have officially listed wide receiver Drake London as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. He was a limited participant in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices before not participating in the team’s final full practice Friday. As a reminder: London has missed each of the last four games with a PCL sprain in his knee.
He told reported Thursday that he is “trending in the right direction” to get the green light Sunday.
“I want to get back out there quick as possible,” London said. “But everything is going smoothly. I’ve been making good strides and leaps. That’s all I can ask for.”
Despite listing him as questionable, head coach Raheem Morris said Friday that he fully expects to have London available on Sunday.
Joining London as a non-participant in Friday’s practice and with a game designation of questionable was defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus (illness/shoulder) and edge rusher James Pearce Jr. (foot).
The inclusion of Pearce on the injury report was a surprise as he was a Friday add. Like what he said about London, Morris was asked about Pearce’s status and said he expects him to be ready to go Sunday, too. Per Morris this week feels like the “healthiest weeks” the Falcons have had in a while.
Pearce currently leads all rookies — and the Falcons’ team at large — with eight total sacks. He contributed two to his total last week against the Buccaneers.
Pearce’s eight sacks are the most by a Falcons rookie in a single season since individual sacks were officially recorded in 1982. According to team record books, the organization recognizes Claude Humphreys as the rookie leader in sacks with 11.5. Pearce has recorded at least one sack in six straight games, tying the second-longest streak by any NFL rookie since individual sacks were officially recorded. He ties Jevon Kearse’s record from 1999.
The only players the Falcons have ruled out of Sunday’s game are cornerback Mike Hughes — who suffered an ankle injury early in the team’s win over the Bucs last week — and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge — who has been on and off the injury reports the last couple weeks with a shoulder injury. Morris ruled Hughes out earlier in the week and the expectation is his absence could open the door for more opportunities for undrafted rookie Cobee Bryant.
You can view both the Friday injury and game reports below. You can check out all of the weekly reports for Atlanta and Arizona here.
