FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - An open date and the resulting extra time off have provided no assurance Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will have all of his wide receivers healthy for Sunday's game against Miami.
Starters Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu were injured and missed the second half of Atlanta's 23-17 loss to Buffalo on Oct. 1. The Falcons were outscored 16-7 in the final two quarters.
Jones appears to be on track to play against the Dolphins, though he only had limited availability Wednesday as he works to return from a hip injury. Sanu, who has a strained hamstring, hasn't returned to practice and may be a longshot to play Sunday.
Backup Justin Hardy, who had the team's only touchdown catch against Buffalo, was out Wednesday because of illness. Taylor Gabriel could move up and work as a starter in two-receiver sets.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Taylor Gabriel leaps over Detroit Lions linebacker Nick Bellore, right, and defensive end Armonty Bryant during their game last month. Gabriel may fill a starter's role in two-receiver sets during Sunday's game against Miami if the team's top two wide receivers are out because of injuries.In the absence of their top threats out wide, Falcons coach Dan Quinn said running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman give Ryan effective targets as receivers.
"We're fortunate that we have depth at the (wide receiver) position, but we're also fortunate we have our running backs," Quinn said Wednesday. "These guys can really make plays with the ball in their hands, too, not just taking a handoff but in the pass game as well."
Coleman, who's third on the team with 13 catches this season, grinned as he talked about the chance to make an even bigger impact as a receiver.
"I enjoy that a lot, catching the ball out of the backfield, going out there as a receiver and running routes," said Coleman, before adding for emphasis, "I like that a lot. I want to be in open field as much as possible."
Ryan used Coleman's 39-yard sideline catch against Buffalo as an example of how the running backs can function as receivers.
"It's huge to have those two guys, as versatile as they are in the passing game," Ryan said. "You look at the play Tevin made against Buffalo going down the sideline, laying out for a ball on a vertical shot down the field. That's about as good as any wide receiver in the league."
Freeman had a combined 127 receptions the past two seasons.
"You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody in the league doing a better job than he is," Ryan said of Freeman's receiving skills.
Quinn remained confident there will be enough receiving options for Ryan, including tight ends Austin Hooper and Levine Toilolo.
"I think the combination of the receivers, of Hooper's development, of Levine and the runners," Quinn said, "all that maybe picks up some of the targets that went to other guys."
Injuries are affecting Atlanta's defense and special teams, too. Linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. is still recovering from a hamstring injury and was limited in practice, while defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw (ankle, knee) did not practice at all.
With kicker Matt Bryant held out with a back injury, Atlanta signed Mike Meyer to the practice squad. Meyer was with the team in training camp and the preseason.
Also, the Falcons signed defensive end Jonathan Woodard to the practice squad and placed tight end Joshua Perkins on the practice squad injured list.