Falcons head coach Mike Smith held up his arms during his Monday press conference and told the media that the team has a list "this long" of players banged up after six weeks of the regular season.
With six players on season-ending injured reserve, one on injured reserve with the designation to return and two more on the physically unable to perform list, the Falcons certainly have a list of players that could fill up the space Smith gestured with his arms.
Several players, however, are gutting it out and performing despite being banged up, and Smith gave an update on them Monday.
Left tackle Jake Matthews had a rough outing Sunday against the Bears after spending most of the previous week limited in practice because of a nagging ankle injury. Smith said the rookie has been holding his own and fighting through some pain with the ankle.
The Falcons are back in the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon to take on the Chicago Bears. The players and coaches will wear pink to raise awareness for breast cancer.

QB Matt Ryan

RB Antone Smith celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Julio Jones and TE Levine Toilolo

WR Devin Hester

TE Levine Toilolo makes a catch.

RB Antone Smith runs the ball.

LS Josh Harris makes a tackle on special teams.

T Jake Matthews warming up before the game.


DT Jonathan Babineaux fights through the line.

Head Coach Mike Smith

QB Matt Ryan

WR Devin Hester catches a pass during warm-up.

QB Matt Ryan warms up his arm before the game

The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears

DE Jonathan Massaquoi celebrates a play

S Dezmen Southward tackles Bears TE Martellus Bennett

WR Eric Weems rallies the Falcons during pregame



FS Dwight Lowery



DT Jonathan Babineaux

Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders

CB Robert McClain celebrates a play

Atlanta Falcons Drumline

DE Ra'Shede Hageman blocking on the line

RB Devonta Freeman and DE Malliciah Goodman

RB Steven Jackson

WR Devin Hester

QB Matt Ryan

The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears

Freddie Falcon


Falcons win the coin toss


The Falcons are honoring breast cancer survivors and raising awareness during their "Crucial Catch" game against the Bears

RB Steven Jackson

QB Matt Ryan

K Matt Bryant

S Dezmen Southward tackles Bears WR Chris Williams

LB Paul Worrilow

DT Jonathan Babineaux closes in on Bears QB Jay Cutler

LB Paul Worrilow takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler



WR Roddy White celebrates a touchdown with RB Antone Smith

CB Josh Wilson and LB Paul Worrilow work to bring down Bears RB Matt Forte


LB Paul Worrilow tackles Bears RB Matt Forte

DE Kroy Biermann puts pressure on Bears QB Jay Cutler

CB Robert McClain defends against Bears WR Brandon Marshall

WR Devin Hester runs the ball after a reception.

WR Devin Hester runs the ball during the first half of play.

LB Paul Worrilow tackles the Chicago ball carrier during the first half of play.

DE Jonathan Massaquoi

DT Corey Peters lines up on defense before the ball is snapped.

QB Matt Ryan yells out an audible during the first half of play.


LB Joplo Bartu and CB Desmond Trufant combine to tackle Bears RB Matt Forte.

RB Steven Jackson runs the ball through several Chicago defenders.

DE Jonathan Massaquoi and DE Osi Umenyiora celebrate after making a big defensive play.

WR Roddy White



RB Antone Smith

CB Robert McClain and DE Kroy Biermann work to take down Bears QB Jay Cutler

Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank greets Bears head coach Marc Trestman

RB Antone Smith

WR Julio Jones

S Dwight Lowery defends against Bears TE Martellus Bennett

RB Antone Smith lines up behind T Jake Matthews

T Jake Matthews blocks for RB Antone Smith

RB Antone Smith

RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball.

WR Roddy White runs after making a reception.


RB Antone Smith runs for a touchdown during the second half of play.

RB Antone Smith runs for a touchdown during the second half of play.

LB Paul Worrilow lines up one defense.

QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball from C Peter Konz.

QB Matt Ryan throws a pass during the second half of play.

DT Paul Soliai tackles Bears RB Matt Forté during the second half of play.

RB Steven Jackson runs through several Bears defenders.

WR Devin Hester runs the ball during the second half of play.

QB Matt Ryan prepares to snap the ball from C Peter Konz.

Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders

QB Matt Ryan speaks with former NFL QB Joe Theismann on the sideline prior to the start of the game.

CB Desmond Trufant

DE Jonathan Massaquoi takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler

DE Jonathan Massaquoi takes down Bears QB Jay Cutler

Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time

Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time

Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time

Breast cancer survivors and women currently fighting breast cancer were honored at half time

Miles College Marching Band

RB Jacquizz Rodgers

QB Matt Ryan



QB Matt Ryan


QB Matt Ryan

QB Matt Ryan


Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders

RB Devonta Freeman exchanges jerseys with Bears LB Christian Jones, who also played for Florida State University

RB Devonta Freeman exchanges jerseys with Bears LB Christian Jones, who also played for Florida State University

WR Julio Jones and WR Eric Weems talk to Bears WR Brandon Marshall after the game
"Jake has done a very good job of dealing with that ankle all through this season," Smith said. "I'm not going to say that it's affecting his play. I think that he's toughing it out in practice and in the games."
Rookie linebacker Prince Shembo, who did not play in Sunday's game despite being listed as probable, was held out due to a knee injury that has been indicated on the injury report the past two weeks. Shembo had been moved into the starting spot on the unofficial depth chart last week, but Joplo Bartu took over in the spot with the injury to Shembo.
Wide receiver Harry Douglas has now missed three straight games with a foot injury suffered in a Week 3 win, but an update was not available Monday on his condition.
Smith said that wide receiver Drew Davis, on the team's physically unable to perform list since before training camp, has been working with trainers and his workload is expected to increase this week. The team, he said, will continue to monitor his condition.