FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons receiver Darnell Mooney participated in practice Wednesday, but the team still wasn’t sure if the projected starter would be available for Sunday’s season opener against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mooney sustained a shoulder injury in the team’s first official practice of training camp and did not play in any of Atlanta’s three preseason games last month. He was on the field for the portion of Wednesday’s practice that was open to reporters, but there was no hitting in the drills, and he was designated as having limited participation.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Mooney’s status remains “day to day” but added the team’s leading deep threat for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. “is still looking good” after being exposed to only limited portions of practice earlier in the week.
It’s possible the final decision on Mooney’s status will not come before pregame warmups against the Bucs — a division rival and the four-time reigning champions in the NFC South.
When asked what he needs to see from Mooney before knowing the 27-year-old receiver can play in the opener, Morris said it’s “a tricky question because that is one of those things where it’s just a medical deal. It’s like if he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go. If he’s not, he won’t be. … We’ve got a chance to wait until up until that last minute. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to see one of our better players out there.”