Falcons Rule Out Key Offensive Weapon for Week 1 Clash vs. Buccaneers
The Atlanta Falcons will open the 2025 campaign with a key divisional clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and with a new era underway now that Michael Penix Jr. is under center, the team will be looking to get off on the right foot to start the season. However, that task was made a bit more difficult thanks to an injury update right before kickoff.
Throughout the week, Atlanta’s No. 2 wide receiver Darnell Mooney’s status for this game was up in the air thanks to a shoulder injury he has been battling as of late. With the Falcons’ inactives for the game being released, the team announced a tough injury update regarding Mooney that won’t help their chances of winning on Sunday.
Falcons Rule Out Darnell Mooney for Buccaneers Matchup
Mooney broke into the league after getting selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Despite not getting selected until late in the draft, Mooney made an immediate impact for the Bears, and he quickly became their top wide receiver. In 2021, Mooney enjoyed the best season of his career, catching 81 passes for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns.
With Chicago struggling to find consistent quarterback play, though, Mooney’s production wavered, and he ended up signing a three-year, $39 million contract with the Falcons in free agency last offseason. Mooney promptly turned in a strong season working alongside Drake London at wide receiver, as he hauled in 64 receptions for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
Heading into the new season, Mooney was set to reprise his role alongside London in the passing game. A shoulder injury he picked up in August, though, threw his status for Week 1 up in the air. With inactives being released, it was revealed that Atlanta ruled Mooney out for this game, which is a big blow that the offense will have to find a way to overcome.
“Falcons WR Darnell Mooney is inactive today,” Adam Schefter of ESPN shared in a post on X.
Who Will Step Up for Falcons in Darnell Mooney’s Absence?
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 22: Darnell Mooney #1 of the Atlanta Falcons carries the ball after his reception and is tackled by Jason Pinnock #27 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Losing Mooney hurts, as the Falcons will likely be spending the day trying to keep pace with the Buccaneers’ high-powered offense. London will obviously be relied on heavily, with Ray-Ray McCloud III and KhaDarel Hodge likely taking on bigger roles at wide receiver. Elsewhere, Kyle Pitts could be set for more targets at tight end, with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier also getting work out of the backfield.
Picking up a win against the Buccaneers was always going to be tough for Penix, but without one of his top targets in Mooney, that task has become even more challenging. Kickoff for this NFC South division matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be on Atlanta to see if they can solidify themselves as a true threat in their division alongside Tampa Bay.
McDavid & Top 5 Stories Going Into the 2025-2026 NHL Season
There are some big storylines worth watching this coming season. Connor McDavid‘s situation is getting the most attention, but the Olympics, a comeback story, and Mitch Marner‘s move to Vegas will be closely watched narratives as 2025-26 unfolds.
The Biggest Story: Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid still does not have a contract heading into his UFA year. This is significant for the NHL—and more specifically, the Edmonton Oilers—because, at this point, based on all insider information, it’s not a question of money, but a question of how good this team is and what the future holds for the Oilers.
They’ve made back-to-back Finals appearances but fell short both times. If they fall short again, will Connor stay? Or will he become the highest-paid free agent signing ever, most likely in NHL history?
Most believe McDavid will re-sign before the season, or at least early into it. The delays, however, have created pause around the NHL and Elliotte Friedman recently hinted teams might try to clear the decks in the event McDavid finishes out the season without a new deal.
The Gavin McKenna Sweepstakes
Another storyline going into next season will be which teams are most likely to tank for the chance at the potential first overall pick. That pick is Gavin McKenna, who recently committed to Penn State—and also the cousin of recent first overall pick Connor Bedard.
Many teams like Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim, Nashville, and Pittsburgh should all be in the mix for the superstar center, who registered 41 goals, 88 assists, and 129 points with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL.
Vegas Golden Knights and Mitch Marner
Mitch Marner surprised no one when he jumped to the Vegas Golden Knights from the Toronto Maple Leafs. What will be intriguing to watch now is how he transitions and plays after all the drama surrounding his departure.
The dynamic 100-point scorer needs to have a big season after a sign-and-trade deal that is still being talked about by Toronto fans and media. It’s a different spotlight and he’ll have to adapt to a new system under head coach Bruce Cassidy. Are his new linemates in Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev better than where he’s coming from?
Olympic Year Means Choosing Olympic Rosters
How the 2026 Olympics play into this coming season will be intriguing to watch. That means lots of roster construction talks—discussions about which players will make it and who will not.
Even right now, the conversation has already started with Habs star rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, who wasn’t invited to Team USA’s summer camp this offseason. Another consideration is the question of who will be healthy when the Olympics arrive in February 2026. Who will be healthy and available when the rosters are finalized?
The Return of a 2010s Icon
If you watched hockey in the 2010s, one player who was very popular and dynamic was the elite two-way forward and captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jonathan Toews . After the 2020 season, he suffered from a severe case of long COVID, which forced him to step away from the Blackhawks—and hockey as a whole. Now, having signed a one-year deal with his hometown team, the Winnipeg Jets, it’s just an overall feel-good story.
This is not just a story of how well he plays after so much time off and a scary health diagnosis. This is the return of an icon from the 2010s era of the NHL—coming back for one more dance with his hometown team.
