Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones was fined for his roughing the passer penalty on Dak Prescott in Week 2.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the NFL fined Jones $15,000 for his hit late in the third quarter, which briefly knocked the Dallas Cowboys quarterback out of the game.

On 1st-and-goal from the Atlanta 7-yard line, Prescott completed a pass to tight end Dalton Schultz for five yards as he took a hit to the head from Jones.

Prescott was removed from the game and evaluated by the medical staff, but he missed only two plays and scored a rushing touchdown on third down to help cut Dallas' deficit to 29-24.

In the fourth quarter, Prescott led two touchdown drives and the march to the game-winning field goal in the Cowboys' 40-39 win. They outscored the Falcons 30-10 in the second half.

The two-time Pro Bowler hasn't been listed on the injury report this week.

Jones finished the game with seven tackles, half a sack and two quarterback hits.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Saturday that they have placed cornerback A.J. Terrell on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Terrell will not play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, making him the first player who will miss a game after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list during the season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The 22-year-old Terrell is a rookie first-round pick out of Clemson who started each of Atlanta's first two games of the season.

Terrell has yet to record an interception or pass defended in his young NFL career, but he does have 11 tackles to his credit.

With Terrell out for Sunday's game, it is likely that Darqueze Dennard will slide into a starting role across from 2018 second-round pick Isaiah Oliver. Kendall Sheffield and Blidi Wreh-Wilson could also play bigger roles.

Dennard was a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the first six years of his career in Cincinnati before signing with Atlanta during the offseason.

While Dennard has recorded just three interceptions during his career, he has appeared in 79 games and made 25 starts, adding some much-needed experience to the Atlanta secondary.

Atlanta has allowed 372 passing yards per game, which is 31st in the NFL, and are surrendering the most points per game in the league (39).

On Sunday, Atlanta has to deal with Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who seems revitalized after struggling last season. Bears No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson may be in for a get-right game after recording just eight receptions for 107 yards and no touchdowns over the first two weeks of the season.

With an already-poor Falcons secondary compromised even more by the loss of Terrell, it could be a huge offensive day for the Bears.

The status of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is reportedly "up in the air" for Sunday's Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears because of a hamstring injury.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network provided the update Friday:

Jones opened the season with nine catches for 157 yards against the Seattle Seahawks. He tallied just two receptions for 24 yards in the Falcons' 40-39 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week, and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter hinted the injury was a factor.

"I think there's something to the hamstring bothering him more than he's letting on," Koetter told reporters.

The seven-time Pro Bowl selection downplayed the issue, though.

"It's football, right?" Jones said Sunday. "Everybody has nagging injuries here and there. It's nothing I can't handle."

He's proceeded to miss practice sessions Wednesday and Thursday, raising concern about whether he'll be available to face the Bears.

Normally teams would err on the side of caution at this early stage of the campaign, but the Falcons are already feeling pressure in the standings. They're 0-2, and a third straight loss to an NFC opponent would be an early blow to their playoff hopes.

Even if Jones doesn't practice Friday, the team may wait until game day to make a final decision about his status. He's capable of making an impact even if he's on a limited snap count.

Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage would still give the Falcons a solid one-two receiving punch if Jones is sidelined for Week 3. Olamide Zaccheaus would also see an uptick in playing time.

Kickoff against the Bears is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET Sunday. That's followed by a Monday Night Football clash against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4 on Oct. 5.

Atlanta Falcons star receiver Julio Jones tweaked the hamstring injury he carried into Sunday's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys during the 40-39 loss.

Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters Wednesday:

"He definitely strained it in the game from where he felt from Wednesday and Thursday and Friday of doing reps and going through it. We'll take it all the way through [the week]. This is a guy who really understands his body and knows how to work through it. In his defense, he was certainly ready to go and battle for it all the way through."

Jones had a big showing in Week 1, catching nine passes for 157 yards as Atlanta lost 38-25 to the Seattle Seahawks. His hamstring appeared to be giving him more problems last week as he mustered only two catches on four targets for 24 yards.

The Falcons play the Chicago Bears in Week 3, and Jones' absence would have a big impact on their offense as they look to earn their first win.

The seven-time Pro Bowler averages 96.1 receiving yards per game for his career, which is the highest in NFL history. Few receivers have been more dependable than the 31-year-old.

Teammate Calvin Ridley is on pace to have a career year, though. He has 16 catches for a league-best 239 yards and four receiving scores. The 2018 first-round draft pick has been Jones' understudy for two years and might be primed for a breakout.

Russell Gage (160 yards, one touchdown) and tight end Hayden Hurst (110 yards, one touchdown) have put up nice numbers as well.

Quarterback Matt Ryan will have options against Chicago if Jones doesn't play, but he'd prefer to have him on the field.

After Dak Prescott engineered a dramatic 40-39 comeback for the Cowboys against the Falcons on Sunday, Atlanta tight end Hayden Hurst went to thank the Dallas quarterback. It wasn't to congratulate him for a good game but for something more personal.

He wanted to tell Prescott that he appreciated him speaking out about his experience with anxiety and depression following the death of his brother, Jace.

Hurst, who struggled with anxiety while playing in the Pittsburgh Pirates system and after joining the South Carolina football team, tried to kill himself in 2016. He and his mother started the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation, which funds programming to support mental health for children and teenagers.

In an interview with USA Today's Jori Epstein, Hurst explained why he was so grateful to the Cowboys quarterback.

"I just wanted Dak to know how much I respected him because when I told my story, I know how much you get scrutinized because of that backward thinking: 'Oh, you've got to be strong, you've got to be a leader, you can't show weakness.' But it is so courageous to come out and talk about that stuff when other people won't," the 27-year-old said.  

"I think it takes more courage to come out and talk about it than to sit and not talk about it. ... It's going to save a ton of lives."

If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for 24/7 access to a trained counselor. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting "HOME" to 741741. For more information about ongoing support and mental health resources, contact the HelpLine at the National Alliance on Mental Illness by calling 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or emailing info@nami.org.

Following their game on Sunday, Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst told Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott that he "respect[s] the hell" out of him for talking about mental health awareness.

Prescott suggested they collaborate on something in the future:

Earlier this month, Prescott said during an interview with Graham Bensinger that his brother Jace, who died in April, took his own life. The quarterback said he also went through a state of depression and anxiety at the beginning of the pandemic and in the aftermath of his brother's death.

Hurst also told Prescott about his Hayden Hurst Family Foundation that aims to "raise awareness of mental health issues in children and adolescents by funding mental health services and/or programs through donations and fundraising events."

On the field, Dallas won 40-39 following a dramatic comeback that required a late onside kick recovery and a game-winning field goal from Greg Zuerlein as time expired.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Tuesday that Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be open to fans in a limited capacity starting with the team's Week 5 game against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 11.

MLS club Atlanta United will also host fans for home games at the stadium following that date.

Steve Cannon, the CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment, said in a statement:

"We are thrilled to invite fans of both the Falcons and Atlanta United back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Having fans watch from alternative locations was a difficult, but important decision. It's been challenging for both teams to play without fans, but their well-being as well as the safety of our associates and fans was paramount."

The team had announced in August it would play games without fans through at least September.

The team cited the decline in COVID-19 cases in Georgia as one factor in changing the policy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia is averaging about 1,700 new cases per day, down from the peak of over 3,700 per day in late July.

After playing Week 1 in an empty stadium—a 38-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks—the Falcons will host about 500 people Sunday against the Chicago Bears, consisting of friends, family and associates. This will help the staff prepare for the return of fans to the stands.

The NFL has allowed each team to make its own determination about fans, and many teams have gone without spectators for at least the first month and potentially beyond.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys were among the teams that allowed up to 25 percent capacity to start the season.

After the Atlanta Falcons watched the Dallas Cowboys recover the onside kick that eventually set up the game-winning field goal in Week 2, team owner Arthur Blank said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he knows where his team went wrong.

"It's clear they (the players) didn't clearly understand what the rules were and what they had to do," Blank said, per WSB-TV's Zach Klein. "I think that's demonstrated when you watch the video."

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that his players did know how to respond when Greg Zuerlein, who would go on to kick a 46-yard field goal that would seal a 15-point comeback in the final five minutes for the Cowboys, went for the onside kick.

"The front three are usually blocking as the high bouncers go to the second side, so the front line, generally on an onside kick, they're looking to get a block first, then the high hop goes to the next player. So when that instance happens and it's not one that's a high hopper you transfer in and you go to your ball ... they definitely know the rule."

As the Falcons watched the ball roll, Cowboys cornerback C.J. Goodwin moved past them to recover it.

The loss, which moved the Falcons to 0-2, marked the first time since 1933 that a team had 39 points and no turnovers but went on to lose the game, according to ESPN Stats & Info. However, it certainly wasn't the first time the Falcons blew a lead in the final minutes of a game.

At least it wasn't the Super Bowl this time.

The Atlanta Falcons had 15 points on the Dallas Cowboys with seven minutes left to play Sunday, so one bettor (h/t Yahoo Sports) felt pretty safe when they decided to bet the -3333 in-game money line, putting $35,000 down to win $1,050.

And then the Cowboys won.

In the last five minutes of Week 2, Dallas scored two touchdowns, and Greg Zuerlein was the hero with an onside kick and a 46-yard field goal for the 40-39 victory. It was the first time since 1933, when turnovers were first tracked, that a team scored 39 points, had no turnovers, and lost, per ESPN Stats & Info. 

The Atlanta Falcons have blown big leads before—Super Bowl LI, anyone? Makes you wonder how much money this bettor lost back then. 

John Lewis, the longtime member of the United States House of Representatives and Civil Rights activist, has been named the Atlanta Falcons' honorary captain for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn made the announcement during his Friday press conference: "That's a big deal in terms of the exposure and the impact Congressman Lewis had not just on Georgia but on the country overall."

Safety Ricardo Allen, who was voted a team captain this season, addressed the decision to have Lewis be an honorary captain for the team. 

"With everything going on right now in the world, we thought it would be best to start it off with somebody as legendary as John Lewis," he said. 

Lewis died on July 17 at the age of 80 from complications of pancreatic cancer. The Alabama native was one of the original Freedom Riders in 1961 that helped lead to the Supreme Court ruling that segregated interstate bus travel was unconstitutional. 

Lewis walked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Selma protest march in March 1965. He served as a Congressman from Georgia's fifth district in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 1987 until his death.