Is Atlanta Falcons RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson set to play in Week 12 as he recovers from an ankle injury? Let’s take a look at the latest updates regarding Patterson’s status in Week 12, and what his absence might mean for the Falcons offense.
Update 11/28/21: According to the Falcons, Cordarrelle Patterson will be active today against the Jaguars.
Is Cordarrelle Patterson playing in Week 12 as he looks to return from an ankle injury?
After Patterson was limited in practice ahead of the Falcons’ Week 11 Thursday Night Football game and then listed as questionable, there was hope he might suit up. However, it was revealed on that Thursday morning that Patterson had been extremely limited in practice and it was unlikely he would suit up.
So, after Patterson has logged another week of limited practice heading into Week 12, is there a chance he could take the field against the Jaguars? Patterson has once again been listed as questionable on the Falcons’ injury report and clear updates have been hard to come by. Therefore, we head into Sunday in a similar situation to last Thursday, with uncertainty swirling as to Patterson’s status for Week 12.
The Falcons utility RB/WR had been having a superb season
Whatever happens down the stretch, Patterson has already had a career year in his dual role. The RB/WR has a career-high in yards from scrimmage (776) and has also tied his career-high from his rookie season with 7 total touchdowns. Patterson has seen his role as an RB expand in 2021 to the point where it is actually his primary role with the team.
Patterson has carried the ball 77 times at an average of 8.6 rush attempts per game through nine games. His previous career-high was 4 carries per game with the Bears in 2020. He has still lined up as a WR for the Falcons a reasonable amount. That is what has made him such a valuable asset to have on the field. The Falcons can use him to disguise their formations by lining up in either the backfield or as a receiver.
What options do the Falcons have if Patterson is inactive?
When you look at the Falcons’ depth chart, Mike Davis and Wayne Gallman are the obvious options to carry the load at running back. Against the Patriots, they also elevated Qadree Ollison, who led the team in carries with 9. However, that was the second time this season that Ollison had been elevated. So, if they do so again, they would have to add him to the 53-man roster or release him.
There has been no announcement that the Falcons elevated Ollison or their other practice squad RB Caleb Huntley before the 4 PM ET deadline on Saturday. That appears to be a good indication that Patterson is on track to play this week.
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The problem for the Falcons — if they are without Patterson — is they cannot disguise plays in the same way. There is no other player as comfortable in that dual role as Patterson is. Therefore, the Falcons cannot simply shift from a 2WR, 2RB set into 3WR, 1RB in the same way they can with Patterson.
The other way to do so would be to use the tight ends. However, Hayden Hurst was placed on IR last week, limiting their options. If Patterson is limited Sunday, then so are the Falcons. We saw them use a combination of TEs Lee Smith and Parker Hesse alongside Kyle Pitts to try and create mismatches, but neither player is near as explosive as Patterson.
