Vick & Crumpler could sit this week

[devilwoman]

Vick could sit Sunday

 

12/21/04 12:50:58 PM CT

 

Flowery Branch, GA (Sports Network) - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick might get this Sunday off to rest an ailing shoulder.

 

The NFC South champion Falcons are already locked into the No. 2 playoff seed after a gutty 34-31 overtime win this past Saturday against Carolina and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday that Vick likely won't play against New Orleans on Sunday.

 

Falcons head coach Jim Mora Jr. said Monday that Vick is not seriously injured, although the quarterback did take a couple of hits against the Panthers, including one to his throwing shoulder.

 

"Mike's fine," said Mora at his Monday news conference. "His shoulder is sore, but nothing his structurally wrong."

 

Asked if he would hold some of his players back in the wake of the severe injury to Philadelphia's Terrell Owens, Mora said he would not.

 

"No. Play to win," Mora said.

 

Vick threw for just 154 yards with two touchdowns on 11-of-28 passing in the victory against the Panthers, but his 12-yard touchdown run on fourth down with 1:37 left in the fourth quarter tied the game and forced the extra period. He was also intercepted twice and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Carolina's Julius Peppers.

 

The Falcons have some other injury concerns heading to the final two weeks of the season.

 

Running back T.J. Duckett is already sidelined after undergoing minor left knee surgery last week, while fullback Stanley Pritchett will likely sit out against the Saints after suffering a broken right thumb. Tight end Alge Crumpler is also a question mark with a sprained right knee, but the Journal- Constitution said it was unlikely that he would play.

 

"We're going to play to win," Mora said about the upcoming game. "We have not yet sat down as a staff and decided exactly what our strategy will be. We have an obligation to try and win every game we play and we're professionals and get paid to do that and so that's what we're going to do."

 

The Saints are in the thick of the muddled NFC playoff race, despite a meager 6-8 record. The Falcons then close the season on January 2 at Seattle, another team battling for a playoff spot.

Edited December 21, 2004 by devilwoman