Falcons awaiting three injury reports

By GEORGE HENRY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- A 23-7 victory over Jacksonville might temporarily cost the Falcons the services of three players: free safety Bryan Scott, receiver Dez White and rookie linebacker Jordan Beck.

Scott and White, both starters, left the win Thursday, Scott with an injured hip and White a strained knee. But Beck, a third-round draft pick from Cal Poly, might have suffered the worst setback.

Beck's left foot was disfigured and swollen as he sat in front of his locker in Jacksonville. He wore a protective boot and walked to the team bus on crutches.

The Falcons, who finish the preseason next week at Miami, are counting on Beck to play significant roles on special teams and to back up middle linebacker Ed Hartwell.

Beck injured his foot as he returned a fourth-quarter interception. He finished each preseason game either as the leading or second-leading tackler.

"It's too early to tell what's going to happen right now," Beck said. "Hopefully I'll get back soon and won't have to miss much time."

Atlanta (3-1) is hardly equipped to replace Scott if he's injured significantly. The third-year veteran, who walked out of the locker room with a noticeable limp, moved from strong to free safety before camp started last month.

Offseason shoulder surgery kept Scott from playing in a game until last week's home loss to Tennessee.

The Falcons' starting secondary has yet to play in a preseason game together. Left cornerback DeAngelo Hall, the only defensive starter to appear in every game, had Allen Rossum start opposite him on the right side at Jacksonville.

Jason Webster, the right-side starter, missed the last two games with a strained hamstring, the same injury that kept No. 3 cornerback Kevin Mathis sidelined Thursday.

Strong safety Keion Carpenter hasn't worked as a full-time starter since the first half of 2003. After losing his job midway through the Falcons' second and final season under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Carpenter spent 2004 on injured reserve with a torn knee ligament.

Carpenter has started the last two games, but the eighth-year veteran seemed to show his age in allowing Jacksonville rookie Matt Jones to beat him on a spectacular 48-yard catch in the second quarter.

Atlanta waived seven players on Friday: guard Martin Bibla, fullback Carey Davis, punter Toby Gowin, defensive end Otis Grigsby, cornerback Christian Morton, defensive end John Taylor and rookie tight end Brian Casey.

None of the moves was surprising. Gowin's departure means that Michael Koenen, an undrafted rookie from Western Washington, will handle punting and kickoff duties.

"Carpenter has started the last two games, but the eighth-year veteran seemed to show his age in allowing Jacksonville rookie Matt Jones to beat him on a spectacular 48-yard catch in the second quarter."

Baloney. There's no way anyone expected Jones to make it to that ball, much less get a hand on it, much less catch it. I was impressed that keion almost got a hand on it it even after Jones started to bring it in.

God I hope Scott isn't badly hurt . . . heading off to ask about the ramifications of cutting webster . . . don't pay what can't play.

j

Seems like I read somewhere they said Scott just bruised his hip. But I'm not 100% on that so don't hold me to it for certain.

yea, I wish I got paid to go to work half time <_<

not just paid, but PAID. entertainer's salaries are absurd, but that's a whole other topic . 6767h

Thanks for the quasi-update, iowa.

j

Webster only missed 5 games, don't know why the perceptions is that he missed more. When he has played, he's played well. Just like Finn in 02, a few drops led to a false belief that he was unreliable in coverage. Webster is not a pro-bowl CB, wouldn't even call him one of the best. He is, however, a starting calibre CB and has not been afraid to play the run and matchup with mountains at WR. I wish his lower body injuries would end because (unlike perception) he never missed a game prior to 2003.

As for Carpenter, he didn't get beat he played the ball wrong. Normally that probably was a pick, but Jones is 6'6 with long arms and just snatched the ball. This is why I'd personally wouldn't mind a Lynch or Harrison type of player in our secondary to KTFO Jones. Wouldn't be a pick, but he would get the message.

Beck, I hope he gets healthy because he has a lot of play left in him. Kinda makes me wonder why we just didn't keep Draft? By the time Hartwell's contract is up (and he's got guaranteed money for three years) Beck will have already seen his first contract end. Draft contract would have ended in 2007 I believe, Beck would have ample oppurtunity to start for us then. Oh well, we did the same thing with Boley.

Beck is freakin done for the year ,..sonufabiatch~! rtgh6 rtgh6 rtgh6 ftyhyh ftyhyh ftyhyh