OT Sam Baker and LB Akeem Dent Ruled Out for Jets

Aug 24, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Atlanta Falcons tackle Sam Baker (72) on the sideline during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field. Tennessee won 27-16. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday is usually a crucial day on the injury front for NFL teams, and that came to pass (yet again) for the Atlanta Falcons today.

The Tweet above from Jay Adams is about as official as it gets (he is the Digital Content Manager for the Falcons), so it is a certainty that the team will be without two more starters this week. Before exiting Sunday night’s game with the Patriots, Sam Baker looked to be anything but healthy (frankly, he was dreadful), and his absence was almost expected this week with the bye week coming in Week 6.

In the case of Dent, however, it’s a bit more surprising and impactful. It was reported by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure earlier in the day that Dent was walking around with a walking boot, and that pretty much spelled the end of his Week 5 prospects. The loss of Dent for this week (especially if Paul Worrilow, who didn’t practice, can’t go) is huge against a Jets team that will need to run the ball effectively to have a chance in the Georgia Dome.

With Steven Jackson, Sean Weatherspoon, and Kroy Biermann already out (among others), the Falcons are having terrible injury luck, and it appears to be continuing. Fortunately, the Jets are coming in as an inferior team, and this is an absolute, unequivocal must-win for the Falcons, so I’d expect their best effort come Monday night.