FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It's likely the Atlanta Falcons will be without their star wide receiver in Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints — even though Drake London himself is bound to push for otherwise.
"He'll be chomping at the bit probably by Saturday," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "But he'll be week to week. Got to protect Drake from Drake, too, at times."
London sustained a PCL injury in his left knee during the team's Week 11 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The injury presumably happened with 26 seconds remaining in regulation, as an incomplete third-down pass came his way; he was ruled out during overtime.
Morris said Monday he doesn't think London will play this week. London did not participate in practice Wednesday or Thursday, which further supports that thought.
That means the Falcons need someone else to step up in his absence – big time. London's 60 receptions for 810 yards and six touchdowns are more than all the other wide receivers' totals combined. Darnell Mooney, Casey Washington, KhaDarel Hodge, David Sills V and Ray-Ray McCloud III, who was released in Week 8, are collectively responsible for 35 receptions for 447 yards and no touchdowns.
"I think you can get the production from those guys," Morris said. "I think we're all going to make decisions based on performance. It's always going to be those ways.
"But you're definitely going to miss Drake."
The next-best wide receiver for the Falcons this season has been Mooney, who has missed two games due to injury and accounted for 224 yards on 16 receptions.
Mooney had quite the breakout year for the Falcons in 2024 after signing with them in the offseason. He finished 8 yards short of breaking 1,000 yards for the second time in his career, and he likely would have had he not missed the Week 18 overtime loss to the Panthers due to a shoulder injury.
Entering training camp, expectations were high for Mooney. Unfortunately, he sustained a substantial injury on the first day of practice. It was initially believed to be a shoulder injury, but Morris recently revealed the Falcons receiver broke his collarbone during the practice. So, he missed all of the preseason and the season opener.
When Mooney did return, he sustained a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the Falcons' Week 6 win against the Buffalo Bills.
"He had a tough, tough hand dealt to him with the collarbone even going back to last season and then training camp," Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "So, you kind of have to build from there. I'd love to see him really be able to take off here in the last stretch of the year."
Cousins can actually be the one to help Mooney do that. Since quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was placed on season-ending injured reserve, Cousins is now the Falcons' starter. Mooney and Cousins had a rather strong connection last season.
So, although Mooney has only had 16 receptions for 224 yards this year, the hope is those numbers can skyrocket through the remaining seven games, especially now that he's healthy.
"It feels like Mooney's close," Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said.
