The Atlanta Falcons are returning to action on Monday Night Football for a primetime matchup against the Buffalo Bills. To beat the reigning AFC East champions, the Falcons will need to have all their top players on the field. However, the Falcons squad has been ravaged by injuries this season, and while star cornerback A.J. Terrell is expected to be back, wide receiver Darnell Mooney’s status is uncertain.
Will Darnell Mooney Play in Week 6?
Darnell Mooney has battled injuries throughout the 2025 season, missing Week 1 with a shoulder issue but returning to play shortly after. Another injury setback in Week 4 wasn’t what Atlanta wanted, yet it became their reality when Mooney exited the game with a hamstring injury after recording just one catch for 15 yards.
At the time, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Mooney was not expected to miss any games. However, head coach Raheem Morris offered no updates on Wednesday, saying he would know more once the team opens practice on Thursday. Unfortunately, Mooney was not able to practice on Thursday, and his status for Week 6 is uncertain.
Through four games, Mooney ranks fourth in receiving yards for the Falcons. He enjoyed a strong resurgence in 2024 after some difficult years at the end of his time in Chicago. Last season, he recorded 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns, establishing himself as a big-play threat with a career-high 15.5 yards per reception.
If Mooney has to miss time again, the Falcons do not have a true WR2 ready to step in. Instead, his absence would likely mean more opportunities for the rest of the offense.
Tight end Kyle Pitts is the most likely beneficiary, moving up from the apparent No. 4 target behind Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Mooney to No. 3. Both Robinson and Pitts have already surpassed 200 receiving yards and recorded a touchdown each this season, showing they are capable of shouldering Mooney’s workload.
The Falcons are 2-2 after they let a Week 1 win slip away from them against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but rebounded with a 22-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2.
There’s no excuse for their 30-0 shutout loss to the Carolina Panthers, a team that sits at 2-3. Thankfully for Mooney and company, they were able to secure a key victory over the Commanders.
Week 6, however, brings a much tougher challenge as the Falcons face the Bills. Their defense, ranked 15th in PFSN’s Defensive Impact metric, will be tested against Josh Allen in MVP form. The offense will rest on Michael Penix Jr, and one can expect him to keep the Falcons competitive after he finished 20/26 for 313 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Week 4.