Falcons give surprise Darnell Mooney injury update for Week 1

Billy Heyen

Falcons give surprise Darnell Mooney injury update for Week 1 image

The Atlanta Falcons were hoping to be at full strength for their season opener.

Instead, they'll be missing No. 2 wide receiver Darnell Mooney for Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Mooney was believed to be a game-time decision, but he was ruled out with the inactive list 90 minutes before kickoff.

It's a shoulder injury keeping Mooney out of action.

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Last season, Mooney had 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns.

Without him on Sunday, second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. will have to rely even more heavily on wideout Drake London, running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts.

The Falcons also have Ray-Ray McCloud slated to be their starting slot receiver. He should see a solid target share.

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Replacing Mooney on the perimeter is less certain. 

Second-year WR Casey Washington could be the leading candidate after a solid summer.

The Falcons also have KhaDarel Hodge, Jamal Agnew and David Sills V.

Expect a heavy dose of London and Robinson.

And the Falcons will just hope Mooney can make it back for Week 2.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle