April 2018 - Atlanta Falcons Wiretap
Ricardo Allen will miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles tendon tear.
Allen was Atlanta's starting free safety.
The Falcons previously have lost strong safety Keanu Neal to a season-ending injury.
The loss of Allen, a designate "chief'' as a team leader and one of the smartest players on defense, leaves the Falcons decimated at the safety position.
Devonta Freeman has been ruled out of the Atlanta Falcons' Week 2 game against the Panthers due to a knee injury.
Freeman suffered the injury in Week 1.
Dan Quinn said it's the same knee Freeman hurt last season.
Atlanta will start Tevin Coleman at running back.
The Carolina Panthers are paying special attention to Hurricane Florence, which could alter their travel plans in the coming days.
"We have several contingency plans," Ron Rivera said. "And our thoughts and prayers most certainly go to everybody that is in the path of this hurricane, just to make sure everybody is safe. But we do have a few plans, and as each day goes by we will see where we are before we make any decisions."
The Panthers play the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday. The Panthers could head to Atlanta early, or find a practice facility with a roof as Carolina's current facilities do not have one.
Florence, currently a Category 3 storm, could hit the Carolinas as early as Thursday.
Keanu Neal suffered a torn ACL in the Atlanta Falcons Week 1 loss to the Eagles.
Neal was a Pro Bowl safety in 2017, his second NFL season.
The Falcons selected Neal with the 17th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Florida.
The NFL's Kickoff game between the Eagles and Falcons had an overnight rating of 13.4, which is down from last year's 14.6.
2017: Chiefs/Pats: 14.6
2016: Panthers/Broncos: 16.5
2015: Steelers/Pats: 17.7
2014: Packers/Seahawks: 16.8
2013: Ravens/Broncos: 16.2
The 14.6 rating still beat Game 1 of The Finals, which had a 12.4 overnight rating. Game 7 of the 2017 World Series had a 15.8 rating, but the other games were 12.6 or lower.
Unlike so many great players this offseason, the Falcons held off on giving Julio Jones a full contract extension, which makes 2018 even more critical for him.
Full List of Essential 50
50. Drew Brees
49. Larry Fitzgerald
48. DeForest Buckner
47. Adam Thielen
46. Eric Berry
45. Corey Davis
44. Ali Marpet
43. Sam Darnold
42. Golden Tate
41. Geno Atkins
39. C.J. Mosley
38. Jameis Winston
37. Landon Collins
36. Vic Beasley Jr.
35. Ryan Tannehill
34. Amari Cooper
33. Malcolm Jenkins
31. LeSean McCoy
30. Patrick Mahomes
29. Bradley Roby
28. Dalvin Cook
26. Russell Wilson
25. Cam Newton
24. Joey Bosa
23. Alex Smith
22. Alvin Kamara
21. Jadeveon Clowney
20. Jarvis Landry
19. David Johnson
18. Ezekiel Elliott
17. Khalil Mack
16. Myles Garrett
15. Deshaun Watson
14. Carson Wentz
13. Todd Gurley
12. Rob Gronkowski
11. Jalen Ramsey
10. Aaron Rodgers
9. Earl Thomas
8. Aaron Donald
6. Ryan Shazier
5. Tom Brady
4. Julio Jones
3. Andrew Luck
1. Le'Veon Bell
Vic Beasley Jr. was one of the NFL's best pass rushers when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl in 2016 and wasn't as effective in 2017.
Full List of Essential 50
50. Drew Brees
49. Larry Fitzgerald
48. DeForest Buckner
47. Adam Thielen
46. Eric Berry
45. Corey Davis
44. Ali Marpet
43. Sam Darnold
42. Golden Tate
41. Geno Atkins
39. C.J. Mosley
38. Jameis Winston
37. Landon Collins
36. Vic Beasley Jr.
35. Ryan Tannehill
34. Amari Cooper
33. Malcolm Jenkins
31. LeSean McCoy
30. Patrick Mahomes
29. Bradley Roby
28. Dalvin Cook
26. Russell Wilson
25. Cam Newton
24. Joey Bosa
23. Alex Smith
22. Alvin Kamara
21. Jadeveon Clowney
20. Jarvis Landry
19. David Johnson
18. Ezekiel Elliott
17. Khalil Mack
16. Myles Garrett
15. Deshaun Watson
14. Carson Wentz
13. Todd Gurley
12. Rob Gronkowski
11. Jalen Ramsey
10. Aaron Rodgers
9. Earl Thomas
8. Aaron Donald
6. Ryan Shazier
5. Tom Brady
4. Julio Jones
3. Andrew Luck
1. Le'Veon Bell
Nick Foles will start at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons, according to sources.
Carson Wentz was hoping to be ready for Week 1 after tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee towards the end of last season, but the Eagles are being cautious.
Howie Roseman wouldn't confirm the decision on Saturday.
"No, I'm not going to talk about any play-time decision or any starter decisions," he said. "That's not my dojo. And I certainly don't feel like we're in a position to give any answers to any tests here about any position on our football team. I appreciate the question."
