Atlanta Falcons release final injury report on Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He Atlanta FalconsThe defense will be without one, if not two, defensive starters in Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, speaking to reporters after Friday’s practice at IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Georgia, ruled out the inside linebacker. Troy Andersen for the Week 8 contest.

Security Justin SimmonsMeanwhile, it’s doubtful, while the backup nickel cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. es and center Ryan Neuzil They are questionable.

Andersen, who had 41 tackles in four games, is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. He missed each of the last three games but participated, on a limited basis, in practice this week.

In essence, Andersen is heading in the right direction, but he will be inactive again on Sunday. Without Andersen, Nate Landman will see plenty of action alongside Kaden Elliss at inside linebacker.

As for Simmons, he continues to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. Despite playing in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks, he was limited in practices on Wednesday and Thursday, did not participate on Friday and is now doubtful entering Sunday.

Should Simmons not play, fourth-year pro Richie Grant will take over alongside Jessie Bates III, a role Falcons defensive back/assistant head coach Jerry Gray believes Grant is prepared for.

“He’s confident in what he’s doing,” Gray said Thursday of Grant. “I think he speaks a lot more the way you want him to speak as far as a football player goes. Now he knows I can go out and play at this level.” We wait for Richie; When we put you there, we don’t expect any disappointment. “I think he expects that of himself.”

Neuzil is battling a knee injury that caused him to miss five snaps in Week 7, but he played the entire second half. Neuzil, who starts in place of the injured Drew Dalman, would be replaced by third center Matt Hennessy.

The Falcons (4-3) and Buccaneers (4-3) will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday inside Raymond James Stadium.