The Atlanta Falcons may be forced to play a fourth straight game without their best wide receiver.
Atlanta released its first injury report of Week 15 on Monday, Dec. 8 since it’s set to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Thursday Night Football.” Lead wide receiver Drake London was on it, listed as a non-participant for Monday’s practice.
London sustained a knee injury in the final moments of regulation in the Falcons‘ Week 11 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 16. He has not returned to the field since suffering the ailment.
If Atlanta’s first Week 15 injury report is any indication, London is at risk of missing a fourth game in a row – and his fifth of the season – thanks to the knee issue.
Despite missing the Falcons’ last three games, London is still the team leader in targets, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, 20+ yard receptions and receiving first downs. His absence has been a severe detriment to Atlanta’s offense.
Here’s the latest injury update for London:
When will Drake London return?
London’s outlook for Week 15 is already in jeopardy.
The Falcons’ leading receiver was listed as a non-participant in practice due to his knee injury on the team’s first injury report of the week. With Atlanta due to play on “Thursday Night Football,” London and the team have a short week to recover from their Week 14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks while also preparing for the divisional clash with the Buccaneers.
London’s absence from practice on Monday, Dec. 8 suggests he may miss a fourth consecutive game while recovering from the malady he suffered in Week 11. Atlanta’s top wideout has already missed four games this season in total, with a hip injury keeping him out of Week 8 and his current knee injury knocking him out of the Falcons’ last three games.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters on Dec. 1 that London’s status had been upgraded to “day-to-day” ahead of Week 14’s game. The wideout still ended up missing the game and is starting Week 15 still on the injury report as a non-participant.
Drake London stats
London recorded more than 100 yards in each of the three games he last appeared in before sustaining his knee injury in Week 11. Here’s how his stats look through 14 weeks and nine games played:
- Targets: 94
- Receptions: 60
- Receiving yards: 810
- Yards/reception: 13.5
- Touchdowns: 6
London’s 13.5 yards per catch would be the highest mark in his career in a single season. The Falcons’ leading receiver is averaging exactly 90 yards per game and, as a result, could still reach the 1,000-yard mark for a second year in a row if he returns soon. London needs three more touchdowns to match his career high of nine, which he set last year.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drake London injury update: Will Falcons WR return this week?
