Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney has been dealing with a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for most of training camp and the entire preseason. The veteran receiver went down hard on the first day of practice and missed significant time, raising questions about his readiness for the regular season opener. With Michael Penix Jr. needing his primary targets available, here’s what fantasy football managers need to know about Mooney’s status.
Is Darnell Mooney Playing Week 1?
All signs point to Mooney being available for the Falcons’ season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 7. The veteran receiver returned to practice on Thursday, August 28, for the first time since suffering his shoulder injury on July 24.
Head coach Raheem Morris expressed optimism about Mooney’s recovery timeline during a recent press conference. “I feel good about getting him back healthy and ready to go,” Morris said. The coach added that he was “feeling good” about Mooney’s potential to return for Week 1.
The injury occurred during the Falcons’ first training camp practice when Mooney dove for a Michael Penix Jr. pass down the right sideline during 11-on-11 drills. He stayed down briefly before walking off the field with a trainer, helmet in hand, and did not return to practice.
Initial reports suggested Mooney would miss “most” of training camp with the shoulder injury. The team labeled him “week-to-week” throughout the summer, creating uncertainty about his availability for the regular season.
However, Mooney’s return to practice marked a significant step forward in his recovery. According to reports, he participated in position drills but did not run routes with the quarterbacks during the media-accessible portion of practice. This measured approach suggests the team is being cautious with his workload as he ramps back up.
Most importantly, the Falcons avoided placing Mooney on injured reserve when they set their 53-man roster. If he had been placed on IR, Mooney would have been forced to miss at least the first four games of the season.
Mooney’s Fantasy Football Outlook
Mooney is coming off a career year in terms of fantasy production relative to expectation, fantasy points per target, and yards per route. The success was great to see after a pair of down seasons with the Bears, and it resurfaced the idea of him being a legitimate WR2 in a productive offense.
Great news for the #Falcons
Darnell Mooney is one of the most underrated WR2s in the NFL 💤pic.twitter.com/hzY4KaIXqe https://t.co/ra2y3tLNE1
— TWSN (@TWSN___) August 28, 2025
However, any momentum he built entering 2025 was lost with a summer shoulder injury. This offense could undoubtedly use a consistent WR2 to aid Michael Penix Jr.’s development. Still, with Bijan Robinson and, jokes aside, Kyle Pitts viable target earners, I think it’s fair to label Mooney’s 2024 as a ceiling for per-game production.
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This is a situation to watch closely. Your IR list spot isn’t overly valuable this early in the season, but should this injury linger, there’s a good chance you will be asked to make a tough decision, and I’m not going to be fighting hard to keep Mooney rostered if that’s the case.
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst
