Jones, Mack to sit out for Falcons
Starting guard Carpenter also declared out; 3 others questionable for Atlanta
The Atlanta Falcons have declared receiver Julio Jones and center Alex Mack out for Sunday’s game at Kansas City.
Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, will miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury. Mack, a sixtime Pro Bowl pick, will miss his first game of the season with a concussion.
A third starter, left guard James Carpenter, will miss the game with a groin injury.
Free safety Ricardo Allen is listed as questionable with a concussion. Allen was a full participant in practice on Thursday. Return specialist Brandon Powell (foot) and rookie defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (knee) are listed as questionable.
Russell Gage will start at the No. 2 receiver spot with Calvin Ridley again taking Jones’ spot at No. 1. Matt Hennessy will replace Mack, and Justin Mccray will start in Carpenter’s spot.
The Falcons (4-10) had Friday off as they prepare to face the Chiefs (13-1).
Jones, the NFL’S active leader in 100-yard games with 58, needs another 100-yard game to tie Marvin Harrison for third place on the career list
behind Jerry Rice (76) and Randy Moss (64).
Chargers: Defensive end Joey Bosa will miss Sunday’s game against Denver due to a concussion and shin injury. Bosa, who was voted to the Pro Bowl for the third time earlier this week, will miss his third game of the season. He was inactive for the Nov. 8 game against Las Vegas and Nov. 15 contest at Miami due to a concussion. The Chargers also ruled out defensive tackle Uchenna Nwosu due to a knee injury. Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, second in the AFC with 100 receptions, is questionable due to a hamstring strain.
Note: Three NFL coaching jobs already are open, and another three or four soon could be. While it happens every year, coaching searches are different depending on the team seeking a new guy to take charge. Some clubs seek a veteran pro coach, like Washington and Dallas did after last season with Mike Mccarthy and Ron Rivera. Others look to rising assistants and coordinators — the Giants’ Joe Judge and the Browns’ Kevin Stefanski fit there. Or NFL teams turn to the college ranks, which Carolina did for Matt Rhule, who was coveted by several other franchises, too. The league hopes more minority coaches get a shot at the openings in Houston and Atlanta, where coincidentally, African Americans Romeo Crennel and Raheem Morris currently are the interim coaches. It even has expanded the Rooney Rule designed to provide more opportunities for minority candidates for coaching, general manager and other executive positions. Most important, of course, is finding the right fit. “The biggest thing is can you get everyone on board with how you want to do things, or do you have to fit into how they do things,” Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy says. “The biggest issue in Dallas, for example, there is a culture there you might not be able to change a lot about it because it is already set. Think back to Oakland when Al Davis was alive. He mostly didn’t hire people from outside, and when he did, with Mike Shanahan it didn’t go well. When he hired Jon Gruden, it didn’t go well at first. So those are talks you have to have as a head coach going in.” Talks already have begun for the Texans, Falcons and Lions. Soon, we can expect the Jets to be done with Adam Gase and the Jaguars to release Doug Marrone. Two openings are possible if the Chargers part with Anthony Lynn and the Broncos dismiss Vic Fangio. Then there can be the surprises, with a coach stepping aside unexpectedly. Might Andy Reid look to retire should the Chiefs, right now the NFL’S best team, repeat as Super Bowl champs? Does Bill Belichick not relish the rebuilding job ahead in New England now that the Pats are also-rans with Tom Brady gone?