Tevin Coleman to miss 2015 finale with concussion

Tevin Coleman will miss his second straight game, the 2015 season finale, as he did not clear concussion protocol after slipping in the shower on the 24th.

According to the Atlanta Falcons’ official Twitter account, 2015 third-round pick and former All-American running back at Indiana University Tevin Coleman will miss his second straight game after not clearing concussion protocol again this week.

Coleman hit his head in the shower at the team’s headquarters at Flowery Branch on Christmas Eve, missing the Atlanta Falcons’ upset victory over the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers last Sunday.

Tevin Coleman finishes his 2015 rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons with 12 games and three starts. He rushed for 392 on 87 attempts and one touchdown with three fumbles. Coleman also had two catches for 14 receiving yards.

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At the start of the year, Coleman was the starting running back for the Atlanta Falcons. He had 80 rushing yards on 20 attempts in his NFL debut on the Atlanta Falcons’ Monday Night home opener in Week 1.

However, a rib injury sidelined him in the first half of week to at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants and backup Devonta Freeman took over for Coleman en route to a Pro Bowl season for the Atlanta Falcons.

Coleman’s other standout performance of his rookie year was at home in Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings, starting in place of the injured Freeman (concussion). Tevin Coleman had 18 carries for 110 yards, his first 100-yard performance of his NFL career.

What Tevin Coleman being out for the Atlanta Falcons’ season finale at home versus the dreaded New Orleans Saints means Devonta Freeman and rookie Terron Ward will have to again do the heavy lifting in the Atlanta backfield.

Freeman only needs 20 yards on the ground to eclipse 1,000 for the first time in his NFL career. He already leads the lead in rushing touchdowns with 11 and has 560 receiving yards out of the backfield. With Coleman out, Freeman is even more of a lock to reach 1K on the ground in 2015.

Terron Ward will likely get more carries on Sunday in the Atlanta Falcons’ season finale. In 2015, the former undrafted free agent has 12 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown and nine receptions for 78 yards. Those stats aren’t bad for a third-string back in his rookie season after not being drafted. He could break 100 yards both on the ground and through the air if head coach Dan Quinn splits the workload evenly between Terron Ward and Devonta Freeman on Sunday.

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The Atlanta Falcons have a great shot at winning their ninth game of the 2015 NFL season to finish above .500 for the first time since 2012’s 13-3 NFC South Championship team. However, Tevin Coleman has played his last game with the Dirty Birds this season.