Ryan not ruled out despite ankle

FLOWERY BRANCH — Although a medical expert believes the type of injury suffered by Matt Ryan on Sunday could sideline the Falcons quarterback for a week or two, the team has not ruled out the possibility of Ryan playing in Sunday’s home game against the Seahawks.

“He’s got a high ankle sprain,” Dr. David J. Chao told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. Chao, a former NFL team doctor for 17 years and practicing orthopedic surgeon, predicted Ryan is “going to miss a week or two, maybe. Is he going to play next week? It’s not impossible. The big key is if he’s still in a boot today.”

Ryan is not likely to have surgery. If Ryan missed one game, he’d have the bye week to heal before a Nov. 10 game in New Orleans.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday that Ryan — who has started 163 consecutive games (154 regular-season games and nine in the playoffs) — has an ankle sprain. But he wouldn’t classify it as a high ankle sprain, which is a more serious injury, and plans to have Ryan test the ankle later this week before making a ruling ahead of Sunday’s game.

“If he’s ready to, I would (play him),” Quinn said. “We wouldn’t put him out(there) if he couldn’t do all the things that he needs to and if he had to be out there playing on one foot.”

Ryan missedtwo games in the 2009 season with a turf toe injury suffered in Week 11 but came back to win the last three games as the Falcons posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. He hasn’t missed a game since.

“If he can’t (play), that’s the reason (backup quarterback) Matt Schaub is here,” Quinn said. “For moments like this, if he’s called on, he’s certainly ready to do that.”

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Matt Ryan has started 163 consecutive games and could play Sunday.