Sep 17, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Lions ride roller coaster into visit from Falcons

Heading into their home opener last week, the Detroit Lions were riding a wave of confidence and praise.

They were coming off a spirited road win over reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City on national TV in the season opener. The euphoria died down quickly last Sunday.

Following a humbling 37-31 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when several key players were injured, the Lions look vulnerable again. They will try to bounce back during a visit from the surprising Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell believes some adversity could be a blessing.

“We’re back to reality, we’re back in the mud,” Campbell said. “It’s doom and gloom outside of this building, in this world. Man, let’s just hunker down and go to work. … Challenge accepted.”

The task will be much more challenging after two defensive starters, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (torn pectoral muscle) and defensive end James Houston (ankle fracture), were placed on the injured list.

Two of their top offensive playmakers, running back David Montgomery (thigh) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (toe), did not practice Wednesday.

Tracy Walker, who missed most of last season with an Achilles injury, will step in for Gardner-Johnson.

“We’re fortunate to have depth at a number of areas and one of them is at that position,” Campbell said. “Having a guy like Tracy, someone who we’ve got a lot of faith in, a lot of trust in, that alleviates a lot of pressure and stress for us.”

Lions quarterback Jared Goff had the third-longest streak in NFL history without an interception snapped by the Seahawks’ Tre Brown, who returned the second-half interception for a touchdown. Otherwise, Goff was sharp with 323 yards passing and three touchdowns.

“He’s played at a high level for a long time,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “Been in a lot of big games. Good player, live arm. That’s what people loved about him coming out (of college). I always love when the guy’s a No. 1 pick and they act like he’s some kind of reclamation project. This guy’s a (darn) good player.”

The matchup Sunday will feature the top two running backs chosen in the draft. Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 overall pick, rushed for 124 yards in the Falcons’ 25-24 win over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. He also has 10 receptions in his first two games.

“He’s an elusive back,” Campbell said of Robinson. “He looks like a power back but he’s really got excellent feet. You give him a lane, give him space, that’s where he’s pretty dangerous.”

Robinson has formed a 1-2 punch with power back Tyler Allgeier, who has 31 carries to Robinson’s 29. Allgeier has rushed for 123 yards and two TDs.

“That’s why we draft (Robinson),” Smith said. “We had a belief in how he fit our program.”

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs, the No. 12 overall draft pick, has averaged 4.2 yards per on 14 carries and has caught nine passes. His workload could increase if Montgomery is sidelined.

Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder passed for 237 yards against the Packers, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another. The Falcons (2-0) have won the past four games that Ridder has started.

“We’ll never be down for the count,” Ridder said. “We’re going to fight until that clock hits zero.”

Offensive tackle Taylor Decker (ankle), safety Kerby Joseph (hip) and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (knee, hamstring) are among the other injury concerns for Detroit (1-1). Defensive end Calais Campbell (rest) was the only Falcons player to not practice on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) celebrates after a touchdown catch with tight end Kyle Pitts (8) against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Gutsy call gives Falcons late rally to beat Packers

A gutsy fourth-down call by head coach Arthur Smith led to a 25-yard game-winning field goal by Younghoe Koo as the Atlanta Falcons rallied to beat the visiting Green Bay Packers 25-24 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Facing a fourth-and-inches on its final drive at the Green Bay 23-yard line, Smith gambled and went for it and Bijan Robinson rushed for seven yards, which set up Koo for the game-winner.

Koo was 4 of 4 on field goal attempts, with a long of 39 yards.

Robinson led the Falcons (2-0) with a team-high 124 rushing yards on 19 carries. He also added four receptions for 48 yards. Tyler Allgeier added 16 carries for 48 yards.

Desmond Ridder completed 19 of 32 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. He also added 39 yards and a score on the ground.

Drake London led the Falcons in receptions (six) and yards (67) and had a 3-yard touchdown reception. Wideout Mack Hollins had three catches for 60 yards. Tight end Jonnu Smith added four receptions for 47 yards.

Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love completed 14 of 25 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns. AJ Dillon started in place of Aaron Jones (hamstring) and finished with 15 carries for 55 yards.

Jayden Reed hauled in four receptions for 37 yards and two touchdowns for the Packers (1-1). Dontayvion Wicks added two receptions for 40 yards and a score. Romeo Doubs tallied two receptions for 30 yards.

Atlanta grabbed a 3-0 lead after Koo capped a 15-play, 67-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal with 3:53 left to play in the first quarter. A 17-yard reception on third-and-7 by Smith sparked the scoring drive.

Green Bay responded on its ensuing possession when Love connected with Reed on a 9-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to put the Packers up 7-3.

The Packers extended their lead to 10-3 with 3:10 to go in the first half after kicker Anders Carlson capped a 10-play, 44-yard drive with a 33-yard field goal.

But the Falcons responded on their ensuing possession when London capped an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a nifty 3-yard reception from Ridder with 12 seconds to play in the second quarter. The extra point by Koo was no good, which gave the Packers a 10-9 lead at the half.

Green Bay increased its lead to 17-9 on its opening drive in the third quarter when Love connected with Wicks on a 32-yard touchdown pass. The play was set up by a controversial defensive holding call on Falcons’ defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham, which resulted in a first down after Atlanta’s defense made a stop for no gain on second-and-long.

Koo trimmed the Packers’ lead to 17-12 after nailing a 33-yard field goal following a 13-play, 60-yard drive that chewed up 7:24 off the clock. Ridder appeared to connect with Hollins for a touchdown in the back of the end zone, but the scoring reception was overturned after replay.

Love hooked up with Reed again on a 10-yard scoring reception with 1:01 left in the third quarter to put Green Bay up 24-12 after Carlson nailed the extra point.

But Atlanta answered with an eight-play, 65-yard scoring drive, which was capped by a Ridder 6-yard scoring run. A flea-flicker pass to Hollins for 45 yards to the Packers 12-yard line got the Falcons in scoring position.

A Koo 39-yard field goal capped an 8-play, 44-yard drive to cut Green Bay’s lead to 24-22 with 8:10 left to play in the game.

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2023; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah (1)  runs during a drill during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons CB Jeff Okudah (foot) ruled out for opener

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah was ruled out of the team’s season opener on Sunday at home against the Carolina Panthers because of a foot injury.

After missing the last three days of practice, Okudah was listed as out on the team’s injury report Friday.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith told reporters that Okudah was out despite being ahead of where he thought his cornerback would be with the injury at this point.

Okudah, 24, is in his first season with the Falcons after three with the Detroit Lions. He played in just one game in 2021 after he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the season opener. He was traded to the Falcons in April for a fifth-round draft pick.

In 25 games (22 starts) for the Lions over three seasons, the former third overall draft pick in 2020 out of Ohio State has 124 tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and 10 passes defended.

–Field Level Media

May 12, 2023; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III (34) shown on the field during rookie camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons rookie CB Clark Phillips III (leg) carted off field

Atlanta Falcons rookie cornerback Clark Phillips III was carted off the field at Tuesday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins.

Multiple media reports said the fourth-round draft pick went down after making a routine tackle.

Atlanta trainers looked at his left ankle or foot before Phillips, 21, headed to the locker room at Miami Gardens, Fla.

He was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last season at Utah after recording six interceptions in 12 games, returning two for touchdowns.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith said after the session that Phillips got kicked and the team is awaiting test results, per NFL Network.

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2023; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah (1)  runs during a drill during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons CB Jeff Okudah (ankle) carted off field

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah was carted off the field with an ankle injury at Friday’s practice.

The severity of the injury was not immediately known for Okudah, who was defending wide receiver Frank Darby during a 1-on-1 drill.

“We’ll have more after he gets done with an MRI,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “Hopefully it’s optimistic and he’ll be back out there. It’s kinda where we’re at and I hate to be that vague, and it isn’t like being vague for competitive reasons or whatever. … I just won’t know until he gets the MRI.”

Okudah was the No. 3 overall pick by the Detroit Lions in 2020 out of Ohio State, where he was the first Buckeyes cornerback to earn unanimous All-America honors.

The Lions’ offseason signings of projected starters Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley made Okudah expendable and Detroit dealt him to Atlanta in April for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Okudah, 24, is entering the final season of his four-year, $33.5 million rookie contract and will be eligible for free agency after the season.

Okudah played in just 10 games (seven starts) combined in his first two seasons, slowed as a rookie by hamstring and core muscle injuries. He suffered a ruptured Achilles on the first day of the 2021 season.

In 2022, he played in 15 games (all starts) and tallied 73 tackles, seven passes defensed, an interception, a forced fumble and his first NFL touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers place kicker Matthew Trickett (95) kicks a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Falcons signing K Matthew Trickett to 3-year deal

The Atlanta Falcons are signing kicker Matthew Trickett to a three-year contract, NFL Network reported Friday.

The undrafted rookie from the University of Minnesota worked out for the team during its mandatory minicamp.

The Falcons already have veteran Younghoe Koo, a 2020 Pro Bowl selection, on the roster.

Trickett kicked for three seasons at Kent State (2018-20) before playing for the Golden Gophers in 2021 and 2022.

For his career, he converted 79 of 100 field-goal attempts and 176 of 179 PATs.

–Field Level Media

Aug 14, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view of the exterior of Soldier Field before the game between the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Former Bears, Falcons executive Phil Emery retires

Former Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery, who was most recently a senior personnel executive for the Atlanta Falcons, announced his retirement.

Emery, 64, was GM of the Bears from 2012-14, with the franchise going 23-25 over that stretch. His tenure started with a 10-6 record and concluded with a 5-11 mark in his final campaign.

Emery fired Lovie Smith after the 2012 season and made the decision to hire Marc Trestman as head coach over Bruce Arians. Trestman went 13-19 in two seasons and was dismissed, along with Emery, after the 2014 season. Arians was eventually hired by the Arizona Cardinals and then by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning the Super Bowl in 2020.

Emery had been the Falcons’ scouting director from 2004-08 and then rejoined the organization when he departed from the Bears.

“Phil has impacted so many during his career, and he’ll undoubtedly have a lasting effect on us,” Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot said in a statement. “We’re highly appreciative of what he’s brought to the organization throughout the years and wish him well in retirement.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Tre Flowers (33) during warmups prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons sign CB Tre Flowers to 1-year contract

The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran cornerback Tre Flowers to a one-year deal Monday. Terms were not released.

Flowers, who turns 28 next month, had 27 tackles and one interception in 15 games with Cincinnati last season.

A fifth-round pick by Seattle in 2018, he has 262 tackles, four interceptions and five fumble recoveries in 73 games (41 starts) with the Seahawks (2018-21) and Bengals (2021-22).

Atlanta has rebuilt its secondary this offseason, signing Mike Hughes to a two-year deal, acquiring Jeff Okudah in a trade and drafting Utah’s Clark Phillips III in the fourth round.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Scotty Miller (10) works out prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons sign WR Scotty Miller to one-year deal

The Atlanta Falcons signed free agent wide receiver Scotty Miller to a one-year contract on Thursday.

Miller, 25, remains in the NFC South after playing his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made him a sixth-round draft pick in 2019 out of Bowling Green.

“He’s quick, he’s athletic and he can run,” Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said earlier this week. “He has shown the ability to make plays. That came together pretty quick and we’re excited to add him to the mix.”

Miller caught 23 passes for 185 yards in 15 games (one start) last season, bringing his totals to 74 receptions for 924 yards and four touchdowns in 50 games (eight starts).

Financial terms were not disclosed.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) stands on the sidelines in the second half against the New York Giants at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kena Krutsinger-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons reinstate retired DT Eddie Goldman

The Atlanta Falcons reinstated defensive tackle Eddie Goldman from the reserve/retired list on Tuesday.

Goldman, 29, signed a one-year deal with Atlanta on July 6, 2022, but announced his retirement 13 days later.

Goldman has played six NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears (2015-19, 2021), sitting out 2020 amid the pandemic.

The 2015 second-round draft pick has 175 tackles, 13 sacks and two fumble recoveries in 81 games (73 starts).

–Field Level Media