Roddy White, Steven Jackson will not play this week
Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson (39) runs with the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against the St. Louis Rams at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
The rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be in dysfunction, but it looks like the Atlanta Falcons will have a tough time beating them this week. Roddy White and Steven Jackson both did not practice today, and FOX Sports’s Jay Glazer reports that neither star skill position player will be able to partake in this week’s game against the Bucs. It’s devastating news for Matt Ryan, who will have to lead a team with a poor offensive line, inconsistent running game, Harry Douglas and Tony Gonzalez as the top WRs, and a dysfunctional defense that has been decimated by injuries as well. It’s been an unlucky season for the Falcons to say the least, but the news that both Jackson and White will be out doesn’t come as a surprise.
Steven Jackson hasn’t played since Week 2 due to a hamstring injury, and the 30-year-old Oregon State product is struggling to come back to health and be the solid workhorse back that this Falcons team desperately needs. It’s a huge concern to see that Jackson still can’t get on the practice field, and Glazer’s report that Jackson won’t play shouldn’t surprise anyone who has been watching his practice status.
Meanwhile, White’s ankle and hamstring issues will prevent him from continuing his consecutive games streak, and the hamstring injury seems to be a doozy. The ankle injury was bad enough and has clearly hurt him throughout the course of the season, and he even suffered a setback on it heading into Week 6 against the New York Jets. He was able to play through the pain (Roddy White is one of the toughest guys in the league), but a new injury cropped up in a hamstring issue. The by week couldn’t help White get things healed up, and he was also unable to practice this week, so it’s not a surprise to hear this news on White’s front either.
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