FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Quarterback Byron Leftwich suffered a high, right ankle sprain Sunday at New Orleans and underwent surgery on Wednesday to expedite his recovery, Head Coach Bobby Petrino said.
Leftwich is expected to return in three to four weeks.
"He had a procedure done this morning that is a very aggressive procedure," Petrino said. "They actually go in and put a couple screws in there and it helps it heal faster. It's the same procedure Todd Weiner had a couple years ago. A lot of hockey players are doing it now. It's supposed to increase the healing and hopefully he'll be back in three to four weeks. He says two, but the doctors say three to four."
The coach said the team will go with Joey Harrington and Chris Redman at quarterback in the interim. Warrick Dunn would be the team's emergency quarterback on game day.
"He wanted to get back on the field as quick as he can," the coach said of Leftwich. "This is a new, aggressive procedure that has worked very well."
TEAM TALKS ABOUT JACKSON: The Falcons released veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson Tuesday. Wednesday, Petrino and others talked about the move.
"We've been an extra guy inside since the injury to Rod (Coleman)," Petrino said. "There was sometime where we were going to have to make a move. This was the time we did it... It had absolutely nothing to do with anything but football."
Veteran wide receiver Joe Horn also played with Jackson in New Orleans.
"Grady is a good friend of mine," Horn said. "I know his wife and I know his children. I'm sad to see him go. But, decisions like that obviously are made from upstairs... Grady is a great guy -- a friend around the locker room -- but that's the decision the higher power made. We have to respect that."
Petrino said rookie defensive tackle Trey Lewis will now have a key role along the defensive front.
Lewis had 15 tackles and one interception entering last week's game at New Orleans.
"I like what Trey has done," Petrino said. "He's gotten better each game. He gives us some pass rush inside. He's big and physical and starting to learn the game better. He's had production in every game we've played. Besides playing nose (tackle), he's got to be able to give us some inside pass rush in our nickel and third-down situations. That's where we're looking for him to pick up."
MOVEMENT ON THE LINE: Petrino said Quinn Ojinnaka took reps with the first team Wednesday at left tackle filling in for Renardo Foster, who was lost for the year Sunday when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Recently signed Harvey Dahl worked on the second team.
"Quinn is lining up with the ones today," Petirno said. "Harvey Dahl is working with the twos. Definitely, they're going to compete. We have to find that out before the San Francisco game."
Petrino said the team will get some relief along the injury-plagued offensive line when veteran right tackle Weiner returns from a knee injury. That's still a few weeks away, however.
"He's back this week to where he's supposed to be able to do some running and, then, see how it reacts to the running," Petrino said. "I know he feels good and says it feels better than it has in a long time, but timetable is still up in the air."
The team also acquired tackle Terrance Pennington on Monday to fill Foster's spot on the 53-man roster.
INJURY REPORT: Tight end Alge Crumpler didn't practice Wednesday in an effort to rest his knee and ankle.
"Hopefully Alge will be back with another week's rest," Petrino said when asked about other injuries. "Stephen Nicholas with that high ankle sprain is still sort of a 'wait-and-see' type of deal. He did run yesterday. He did run today. Whether he'll make it back for the San Francisco game or not, I'm a little skeptical of that."
CRUMPLER HONORED: Crumpler will be inducted into the Boys and Girls Club of America Alumni Hall of Fame tonight. He is the second Falcons player to be bestowed with the honor, with Horn getting inducted at the organization's annual convention earlier this year.
Crumpler remains active in the lives of youth in Georgia and in North Carolina and actively serves as the honorary chair of the capital campaign of his hometown Boys and Girls Club in Greenville, N.C.
