The Atlanta Falcons (5-8) and the New Orleans Saints (4-9) will face off for the second time this season on Sunday. During their first matchup back in Week 1, the Saints overcame a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Falcons, 27-26.
This time, Atlanta travels to New Orleans with a chance to get back in the NFC South race. The team released its first injury report on Wednesday, which you can see below.
Falcons Wednesday injury report
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Status |
| Chuma Edoga | Knee | DNP |
Mariota placed on IR with knee injury
Mariota will undergo knee surgery and has officially been placed on the injured reserve list. Head coach Arthur Smith made sure to clarify that the decision to start rookie QB Desmond Ridder is a performance-based move, but the timing of Mariota’s surgery has fans speculating all kinds of things. Regardless of what’s going on behind the scenes, Ridder is now the starting quarterback and has a lot to prove over the final four games of the season.
Saints C Erik McCoy returns
“The New Orleans Saints hit the practice field with two players beginning their return from injured reserve: starting center Erik McCoy and backup linebacker Chase Hansen were both seen early in Wednesday’s practice session,” write Saints Wire’s John Sigler and Ross Jackson. “McCoy has been out for most of the last month with a calf injury, while Hansen has been out of action with a knee issue.”
