Atlanta Falcons injury report: Babineaux probable, Douglas questionable

The Atlanta Falcons are back in action on Sunday after a two-week hiatus, but the bye week did not cure all injury ills. On Friday, the team released its injury report in advance of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and while there is positive news surrounding defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux, the prospects are more mixed with wide receiver Harry Douglas, running back Antone Smith and defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi.

Babineaux did not appear in the London game against the Detroit Lions (which was, as you may remember, a disaster), but the distinction of “probable” indicates that he will play barring a change in circumstance, and that is a positive for the defensive line. In the case of Massaquoi, the 6-foot-2 defensive end has been under-utilized this season, but he may be the best pure pass-rusher on the current roster (yikes), and it would certainly be beneficial if he was able to play through injury.

On the offensive side of the ball, Harry Douglas returned to action in London after missing multiple weeks with a foot injury, but it is not ideal to see him back on the injury report as questionable. The presence of Devin Hester has mitigated his absence to some degree, but Douglas is probably a better pure wide receiver than Hester, and the 30-year-old from Jonesboro has been reasonably productive when healthy this season.

Antone Smith has been the team’s home run hitter this season, scoring 5 touchdowns on just 31 offensive touches, but he has been limited with a neck stinger in recent days. It will be interesting to see how the Falcons deploy their running backs out of the bye, almost regardless of Smith’s availability, but if he can’t go, we could see more of rookie Devonta Freeman.

Stay tuned for more coverage of this Sunday’s game, as the Atlanta Falcons travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.