Tag: Drake London

Falcons rule out Drake London (knee), Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles) vs. Saints

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A bad week became even worse for the Atlanta Falcons on Friday when coach Raheem Morris told reporters that star receiver Drake London (knee) and rookie cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles) will both miss Sunday’s game at the New Orleans Saints.

They join quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is out for the rest of the season due to a partially torn ACL sustained in last week’s 30-27 overtime loss at home to the Carolina Panthers, dropping the Falcons to 3-7.

London, 24, did not practice all week after sustaining the injury during the Carolina game, during which he had 119 yards for his fifth 100-yard showing in the last six games.

His 810 receiving yards this season rank fifth in the NFL while his six touchdown catches are tied for eighth.

Morris said that Bowman, who missed three games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury, hurt his Achilles during Friday’s walkthrough practice. While Morris didn’t have a clear idea of the extent of the injury, he labeled it as “not good.”

Defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee) and linebacker Josh Woods (hamstring) also were ruled out for Atlanta. Linebacker Divine Deablo (forearm), edge rusher Leonard Floyd (hamstring) and offensive line starters Matthew Bergeron (ankle) and Chris Lindstrom (foot) are listed as questionable.

–Field Level Media

Report: Falcons WR Drake London (knee) out at least 1 week

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Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Drake London will not play this Sunday due to a PCL sprain and might be out multiple games, NFL Media reported Monday.

London, who leads the Falcons with 60 catches for 810 yards and six touchdowns in nine games this season, hauled in seven receptions for 119 yards in a 30-27 overtime loss to the visiting Carolina Panthers on Sunday before injuring his knee.

London’s quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., was placed on injured reserve Monday with a knee injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season, per an ESPN report. Kirk Cousins will assume starting QB duties in Penix’s absence.

Atlanta’s first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft, London has reeled in 301 catches for 3,852 yards and 21 touchdowns in 59 games (57 starts).

On a five-game losing streak, the Falcons (3-7) travel to New Orleans to face the Saints (2-8) this Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) and head coach Raheem Morris on the field during Minicamp at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons coach on Michael Penix Jr.: ‘Feel really good about him’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix and wide receiver Drake London are both making progress as they bid to return from injuries, coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday.

Penix, who is nursing a bone bruise on his knee, was a spectator this past Sunday and watched as Kirk Cousins and the Falcons struggled mightily in a 34-10 setback to the Miami Dolphins. Cousins, 37, completed 21 of 31 passes for 173 yards while making his first start of the season.

“Michael is in the building,” Morris said. “Obviously in meetings. He’ll go out there today and do walk-through. We’ll get a chance to get a feel for what he can do in practice, if he can do anything. But obviously we’ll get to that right after this and find out what he’s doing, how he can do it and how he feels and all that type of stuff. Obviously he feels better than he did last week. Obviously he feels better than he did every single day with it being a bone bruise. That stuff gets better every day. So, I feel really good about him.”

Penix was hurt during Atlanta’s 20-10 road loss against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 19. He played the entire game and completed 21 of 38 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown.

Penix, 25, has started six games this season and completed 61% of his passes for 1,409 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for one TD.

London, who had no injury designation last Friday, was downgraded to questionable with a hip injury on Saturday before being ruled out on Sunday. The 24-year-old, however, is expected to participate in practice this week, Morris said.

London leads the Falcons in catches (38) and receiving yards (469) this season. He is tied with star running back Bijan Robinson with two touchdown receptions.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) reacts while walking off the field after the game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Falcons WR Drake London, QB Michael Penix inactive vs. Dolphins

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons star wide receiver Drake London is inactive for Sunday’s game against the visiting Miami Dolphins.

London, who had no injury designation on Friday, was downgraded to questionable with a hip injury on Saturday before being ruled out on Sunday.

He leads the Falcons in catches (38) and receiving yards (469) this season. He is tied with star running back Bijan Robinson with two touchdown receptions.

Kirk Cousins has been confirmed to start Sunday’s game with fellow Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. ruled out with a bone bruise on his knee. Penix was limited in practice this week.

As for the Dolphins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to play in Sunday’s game despite being added to the injury report with an illness.

Tagovailoa, who does not carry an injury designation into the game, was benched last week in a 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He threw three interceptions and mustered only 100 passing yards with 12 completions and a career-worst passer rating of 24.1. It was his second consecutive three-INT game.

Zach Wilson will serve as the backup with fellow quarterback Quinn Ewers listed as inactive.

Tagovailoa, 27, has thrown for 1,313 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Miami (1-6), which has dropped three consecutive games for the second time this season.

While Tagovailoa will play and Ewers is out, the Dolphins listed the following players as inactive: defensive backs Elijah Campbell and Juju Brents, safety Jordan Colbert, wide receiver Tahj Washington, defensive tackle Zeek Biggers and tight end Julian Hill.

In addition to London and Penix, the Falcons (3-3) also listed defensive lineman Zach Harrison, edge rusher Jalon Walker, cornerback Billy Bowman Jr., offensive lineman Michael Jerrell and defensive lineman LaCale London as inactive.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) attempts a catch against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (35) during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons unclear of severity of WR Drake London (shoulder) injury

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Falcons No. 1 receiver Drake London is scheduled to undergo tests to determined the severity of his right shoulder injury, but head coach Raheem Morris had no additional details following Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers.

London landed hard on his right shoulder in the end zone attempting to secure a touchdown pass from Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons initially believed it was ruled a touchdown before it was ruled incomplete, with the call standing after an instant-replay review.

London was targeted 15 times before leaving the game with eight receptions for 55 yards. His longest gain was 12 yards.

The Falcons played without wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who was ruled out with a shoulder injury that limited him most of training camp. The Falcons confirmed Mooney would miss multiple weeks at the outset of training camp because of the injury.

London caught 100 passes for 1,271 yards with nine touchdowns last season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) warms up on the field prior to the game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons pick up fifth-year option for WR Drake London

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons exercised their fifth-year option for wide receiver Drake London on Wednesday.

London, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, will earn a guaranteed $16.817 million in 2026.

London set career highs across the board with 100 catches for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Durable and dependable, he has 241 receptions for 3,042 yards and 15 scores in 50 games (48 starts).

“You know how we feel about Drake: He’s a stud on the field,” Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said during the NFL draft. “He’s everything we’re about. Just like we’re just talking about being obsessed with the game. Obviously, he’s a good man off the field, but he blacks out when it’s time to play and when it’s time to compete, and he will do anything he can to rip your face off and win the game. That’s who he is, and that’s what we want.”

NFL teams have until Thursday to exercise the fifth-year options for 2022 first-round picks.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) catches a pass for a touchdown past Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons WR Drake London (hip) questionable vs. Saints

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London is questionable to play against the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

London injured his hip while making an acrobatic touchdown reception in Atlanta’s 27-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. He was a limited participant in practice throughout the week.

London, 23, has a team-leading totals in catches (50) and touchdown receptions (six) to go along with 552 receiving yards in nine games this season.

He has 191 catches for 2,323 yards and 12 touchdowns in 42 career games since being selected by the Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Also on Friday, Atlanta did not place an injury designation on linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (Achilles).

Center Drew Dalman (hip), however, is listed as questionable to face the Saints and linebacker JD Bertrand (concussion) has been ruled out.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sideline against the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons’ Raheem Morris wary of Saints, praises their interim coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Everything appears to be falling in place for the Atlanta Falcons, who matched their best start since their 2016 NFC Championship season with Sunday’s 27-21 home win over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Falcons (6-3) have taken control of the NFC South. Atlanta, a franchise that’s searching for its first winning season and postseason appearance since 2017, can improve those chances this Sunday at the rival New Orleans Saints, where a win would push the Falcons to 5-0 against division opponents.

Raheem Morris, who was hired as Atlanta’s head coach in January, previously served as the Falcons’ interim coach in 2020 following Dan Quinn’s firing midway through that season. Now, Morris and company prepare for a Saints team that just made the same move.

New Orleans fired head coach Dennis Allen Monday after his Saints (2-7) lost their seventh straight game. The team named assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi as the interim for the remainder of 2024.

As a coach who knows what an interim staff has to deal with, Morris understands that the Falcons’ opponent won’t have any less motivation on Sunday.

“When a coach gets fired in that situation, it doesn’t mean everything they were doing was bad. Everything Dennis Allen was trying to do wasn’t terrible,” Morris said in Monday’s press conference. “It’s just about applying your message and getting those guys to try to play for you. We know how good of a coach Rizzi is and some of the things he can do, so we better show up ready to go, because we also know what that looks like from the other side.”

Behind a potent offense, Atlanta looks to sweep New Orleans for the first time since 2016. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown for seven touchdowns and zero interceptions over the last two weeks, steadily progressing under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

“(Zac) has done a great job,” Morris added. “He’s kind of judged based on how Kirk looks and what he does. You can’t say those two haven’t gotten better through every single opportunity they’ve had. What they’re doing and how they’re growing every week has been awesome.”

Cousins’ 2,328 passing yards are good for third-most in the NFL, while his 17 passing touchdowns are tied for the league’s fourth-most. Under Robinson, the Falcons’ 24.6 points per game rank 12th in the NFL, up from last year’s 18.9 points per game.

On the injury front, Morris said wide receiver Drake London (hip pointer) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (Achilles strain) are considered day-to-day this week. London left the Cowboys game after getting injured on an acrobatic 9-yard touchdown catch.

Morris also said linebacker Troy Andersen, who missed his fifth straight game with a knee injury, was “close” to playing against Dallas.

“I think this week may be the turning point for us,” Morris said. “(There is) potential of getting him active this week and seeing what he can do.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons WR Drake London (hip) ruled out vs. Cowboys

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London made an acrobatic touchdown catch in the first quarter on Sunday against the visiting Dallas Cowboys, but injured his hip on the play and was ruled out at halftime.

On the touchdown grab from Kirk Cousins with 5:23 left in the opening quarter, London went up for the ball in coverage and landed hard on the turf. He didn’t return to the game after that catch.

The 23-year-old third-year receiver finished with two receptions for 27 yards for Atlanta, which entered Sunday with four wins in its last five games.

The TD was the sixth of the year for London, matching his combined total from the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This season, he has 50 catches for 552 yards.

Atlanta selected London with the No. 8 pick in the 2022 draft.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) lays on the field after taking a hit from Tennessee Titans linebacker Jack Gibbens (50) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons WR Drake London (groin) out vs. Vikings

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London will miss Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings with a groin injury.

Friday’s injury report also ruled out safety DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring) and fullback Keith Smith (concussion).

London and Hellams did not practice all week. Smith was limited on Thursday but did not participate on Friday.

London, 22, leads the Falcons (4-4) in receptions (37) and receiving yards (438) and has two touchdown catches in eight games (all starts).

Sunday’s matchup against the visiting Vikings (4-4) will be the first time London has missed a game in his two-year career.

Selected eighth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, London has recorded 109 catches for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns in 25 career games (23 starts).

–Field Level Media