The biggest downside of the Atlanta Falcons' dominating 22-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings was the loss of A.J. Terrell, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first half. Dee Alford was forced into action as the Falcons' best cover man wouldn't return for the rest of the night. The timeline of a potential return is incredibly unclear, with hamstring injuries varying depending on the player.
Unfortunately, judging from Atlanta's latest update, Terrell's outlook isn't ideal.
Falcons beat writer Terrin Waack reported that CB Keith Taylor had been signed to the Falcons' practice squad. There is little reason to add to the secondary right now if they're expecting Terrell to make a full recovery for Week 3. Signing Taylor could indicate the Falcons view the injury as a longer-term issue.
Still, Taylor is a depth player who, at best, would be the final man on a gameday roster. Looking at the current depth chart, Atlanta fans have to hope to see a strong performance from the defense across the board.
Falcons' Latest Signing Hints A.J. Terrell Will Be Out Longer Than First Hoped
If Terrell does miss this week's game against the Carolina Panthers, Alford is the next man up. The veteran CB has starting experience and could mix and match with Atlanta's bench, with starters Mike Hughes and Billy Bowman remaining healthy. Alford has a mixed history, starting incredibly hot with the Falcons and earning a starting role before imploding late last season.
Still, Alford stepped up against a Minnesota team that exposed him a season ago and played at a high level. Atlanta's dominance defensively doesn't happen if Alford didn't play at a much-improved level, giving the Falcons a bit of hope that they can survive if Terrell doesn't return as quickly as first hoped.
The Falcons' upcoming games against the Panthers and Washington Commanders are winnable even if Terrell isn't in the lineup. While Washington is a tough matchup without the star defender, it is still Atlanta's game to lose, with head coach Raheem Morris' team matching up very well against a questionable defense.
There is reason for concern with how long Terrell might be out and if it will slow the progress of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's impressive young defense. Hopefully, the Falcons will weather the storm in the meantime.