Paul Worrilow out vs. Jaguars, Nate Stupar to start

Paul Worrilow will not play on Sunday in the Atlanta Falcons’ game with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nate Stupar will start in his place at inside linebacker.

According to the Atlanta Falcons’ official Twitter account, middle linebacker Paul Worrilow is not going to play in the Falcons’ Week 15 matchup against the AFC South’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Nate Stupar will start in Worrilow’s place on Sunday.

Paul Worrilow’s knee will keep him out of this game, as both the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars fight for their playoff lives. Atlanta at 6-7 has to basically win out and get some luck from either the Seattle Seahawks or the Minnesota Vikings to get the sixth seed at 9-7. Jacksonville at 5-8 can still very much win the bad AFC South, as the Jaguars are only a game back of both the 6-7 Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts.

-= Related: Justin Hardy: Improved play made Hankerson expendable =-

Earlier today, the Atlanta Falcons announced that they put center James Stone on Injured Reserve and promote outside linebacker Tyler Starr to the 53-man roster.

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While Starr may get his opportunity in the final three weeks of the 2015 NFL season, this may come as more of a reserve role, as he will have to spell Stupar who will get all of Paul Worrilow’s snaps on Sunday. Expect to see Starr at least debut on special teams for the Atlanta Falcons, maybe in a few packages on the outside as well on defense.

While Paul Worrilow has done well as a former undrafted free agent, it is no secret that the Atlanta Falcons will look to try to improve the middle of the defense by either going with a middle linebacker or a safety in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Though Paul Worrilow has worn the green dot on defense as the man responsible for lining up the defense, he may end up being on the way out in Flowery Branch should Atlanta look to upgrade at linebacker in the draft.

Stupar is a high-energy guy and has played great on special teams since coming to Atlanta from ironically Jacksonville last season. He’s even elevated his play to get some time on the defense and tends to make the most of his opportunities.

Next: Atlanta Falcons place Stone on IR, promote Starr to 53

It’s these type of moves towards the end of the season where a team is about out of it and they try to see just how deep the team’s roster is. Giving guys like Stupar and Starr on defense and wide receiver Justin Hardy on offense extended snaps help head coach Dan Quinn evaluate the entirety of the roster before heading into the draft. Atlanta will need to make some wholesale changes in the draft again in 2016. Hopefully they can get the pieces they need this year come later this spring. Rise Up!