Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has been ruled out for Monday night’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks due to a concussion, meaning Tevin Coleman will start.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he would take it through the week before making a final call on Freeman, who was knocked out in the first quarter of last week’s 27-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. It was Freeman’s second concussion since August and his third since November 2015.
Coleman will get his fourth career start and his first since the 2015 season, when he was named the starter over Freeman to begin the year. Last week, Coleman tied a career high with 20 rushing attempts and ran for a season-high 83 yards. His 21 total touches, including one reception, marked a career high.
Falcons RB Devonta Freeman was knocked out of last week’s win over the Cowboys with a concussion, his second since August and third since November 2015. Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports
Although Coleman doesn’t have the same vision and elusive ability as Freeman, he is a better big-play threat with his breakaway speed in the open field. Coleman’s current average of 4.8 yards per carry is a career best and ranks among the league leaders.
No Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, and Franck Ribery, no problem.
Bayern Munich booked its 15th consecutive Champions League knockout stage spot Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Celtic in Glasgow despite missing a slew of celebrated regulars, and it was those on the fringes of Jupp Heynckes’ first-team who cemented the Bavarian behemoth’s progression.
It was hardly a trademark Bayern performance, but an emboldening one, and after a rocky start to the campaign under Carlo Ancelotti resulted in the Italian gaffer’s sacking, the five-time Bundesliga champ hasn’t lost, pairing five victories with a draw in all competitions while outscoring opponents 14-2 over that stretch.
The last manager to guide Bayern to continental glory, Heynckes’ return to the Allianz Arena has sparked a side that appeared mired in an uncharacteristic placidity, and, perhaps more importantly, inspired the efforts of those whose roles were uncertain under his predecessor.
With Tuesday’s visit to Celtic Park barely 20 minutes old, Rafinha considered turning Bhoys prodigy Kieran Tierney toward the touchline before opting instead to play the ball back to Sven Ulreich. As the ball travelled towards Neuer’s shot-stopping deputy, it was hard not to revisit the various gaffes the 29-year-old has made this season. His error in September against Wolfsburg saw Bayern concede a two-goal lead and squander an opportunity to go top of the Bundesliga standings, and, like Ancelotti, Ulreich became a symbol of Bayern’s putative decline. Neuer’s boots were never going to be easy to fill.
In this instance, Ulreich booted a laser of a long-ball that eluded a lethargic Dedryck Boyata, falling to the feet of Kingsley Coman. It was far from a simple task for the 21-year-old French attacker, who shuffled and sidestepped before firing a left-footed effort into an unoccupied net.
Rafinha to Ulreich to Coman and goal. Not quite the trio of players synonymous with the exploits of a continental heavyweight, but members of a squad that benefits from depth.
Heynckes could have started Joshua Kimmich at right-back instead of Rafinha, but with appearances in all 10 of Bayern’s league matches, the German international was spared before coming on in the 83rd minute to preserve the lead. The 72-year-old gaffer also could have started Lewandowski up top instead of false No. 9 James Rodriguez, especially after Poland’s all-time leading scorer was omitted from the squad for precautionary reasons. Earlier Tuesday, Lewandowski said Bayern needs to find alternatives when he’s injured.
Instead, Heynckes put his faith in two players – Rodriguez and Coman – that have become emblematic of the mercurial nature of form and fortune. Same with Rafinha, who at 32 years old has become a mainstay without ever staying in the first-team, making more than 30 appearances in all competitions just once in his seven-year Bavarian tenure.
Even Javi Martinez – whose match-winning header resulted in a stream of Bayern kit-matching blood cascading down the Spaniard’s jowls – is a motif for Munich’s depth. On Tuesday at Celtic Park, Martinez played in a central midfield role bookended by Arturo Vidal and Corentin Tolisso. On Saturday at rival Borussia Dortmund, he may very well line-up as centre-half.
In football, versatility and depth are bedfellows, and under Heynckes, Bayern is again approaching its best because the manager is putting faith in all his players that reportedly was absent during his predecessor’s tenure. So far, it’s paying dividends.
RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said he plans to appeal an $18,231 fine for a hit on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton.
“It’s extortion,” Richardson said.
The hit in question occurred in the first quarter of Seattle’s 22-16 win on Nov. 9. Richardson said he was pushed in the back by a Cardinals offensive lineman and that he tried to let up before hitting Stanton’s legs, which drew a penalty for roughing the passer.
As a result of a hit he took from Karlos Dansby in the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Arizona Cardinals last week, quarterback Russell Wilson said he needed to have his jaw realigned. Dansby was fined $18,231 by the NFL.
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“There is no way you should be taking any of my money because it wasn’t a dirty hit,” Richardson said, according to the Seattle Times. “I didn’t try to hit him in the legs or nothing and once again people fail to realize it’s still football. Pretty sure they are just fining guys for every personal foul and not even looking at the film and not even making the consideration of did I try to avoid the guy.”
Richardson added that avoiding quarterbacks “is not why we get paid,” according to the Times.
“You don’t get paid for your fantasy football ratings. We get paid to make plays. That’s another sack missed,” he said.
Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby was also fined $18,231 for a hit on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in that game.
Barcelona will be without Sergi Roberto and Andre Gomes for a significant period after the pair suffered injuries during Tuesday’s Champions League draw with Olympiacos.
Roberto was removed from the contest just before halftime because of an injured hamstring that’s expected to keep him out for five weeks, the Spanish side revealed Wednesday.
It’s a major blow for Roberto, who had solidified his place in manager Ernesto Valverde’s team after appearing in 14 of Barcelona’s 15 league matches this term.
Meanwhile, Gomes picked up a thigh injury and is expected to miss three-to-four weeks. The Portuguese midfielder came on as a substitute late in the second half before suffering the injury in his right leg.
Despite the disappointing outcome of a goalless draw against an inferior team, Barcelona remains atop Group D with a three-point edge over Juventus with two matches remaining.
