Drake London OUT, Saints possibly full strength for Falcons matchup

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints may be at full strength Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. For the second day in a row, the team had all of its available players on the practice field. Meanwhile, the Falcons have ruled out four in addition to adding their starting quarterback to Injured Reserve. 

Here is the information from Friday’s final injury report.

New Orleans Saints

Out

• WR Brandin Cooks (NIR-personal) – release still pending from league.

Questionable

• T Taliese Fuaga (ankle)
• RB Alvin Kamara (ankle)
• T Barry Wesley (hip)

No Game Designation (Good to go)

• WR Chris Olave (ankle)
• TE Jack Stoll (ankle)

Per reports, and confirmed by head coach Kellen Moore, the release of Cooks is all but complete. However, the league is looking over the final details of the accompanying payout that the receiver agreed to in order to help facilitate his release. All expectations are that the move will eventually be processed in the coming days. 

Fuaga has been back for two consecutive practices now, but that’s no guarantee for his availability this weekend. With the bye week, he’s practiced just twice in the last three weeks since injuring his ankle in the team’s Week 9 bout with the Los Angeles Rams. The Saints are likely to take his status down to gametime. 

Atlanta Falcons

Out

• DT Zach Harrison (knee)
• WR Drake London (knee)
• LB Josh Woods (hamstring)
• S Billy Bowman (achilles)

Questionable

• G Chris Lindstrom (foot)
• G Matthew Bergeron (ankle)
• LB Divine Deablo (forearm)
• LB Leonard Floyd (hamstring)

No Game Designation (Good to go)

• S Xavier Watts (illness)
• CB Dee Alford (concussion)
• S Jessie Bates (NIR – rest)
• DT Brandon Dorlus (oblique)
• CB A.J. Terrell (NIR – rest)
• LB Malik Verdon (shoulder)
• LB Jalon Walker (NIR – rest)
• CB Mike Hughes (neck)
• LS Liam McCullough (NIR- personal)
• DT David Onyemata (NIR-personal)
• LB Kaden Elliss (NIR-rest)
• T Jake Matthews (NIR-rest)

No Game Designation (on Injured Reserve)

• QB Michael Penix (knee)

A couple of in-week downgrades could have an impact for Atlanta. The team will already be without Penix and London, for which they’ve planned throughout the week. Now, participation drops for rookie safety Bowman and pass rusher Floyd could take some wind out of the sales of the defense. 

The team also decided to rest several players for the final day of practices with the injury report additions of McCullough, Onyemata, Elliss and Matthews.