Patterson had a magical run as a converted running back with the Falcons in 2021 and was even a consistent Fantasy football asset for that stretch, but injuries and the emergence of Allgeier made him less Fantasy relevant in 2022. Patterson finished as a top-four running back twice in 2022 but both times came in the first three weeks. With Bijan Robinson in the mix and Tyler Allgeier entering Year 2, Patterson feels more like a gadget addition to the offense that won't find anywhere near the volume needed to be a weekly asset.
Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Limited in season debut
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Patterson (thigh) didn't record any counting stats across seven snaps (one offensive) during Sunday's 23-7 loss to Jacksonville.
After missing the first three games of the season due to a thigh injury, Patterson was cleared to suit up Sunday but played primarily on special teams. Head coach Arthur Smith said the running back was limited mainly due to how the game unfolded. Patterson is expected to fill the "Joker" role on offense, and Smith noted that there were a few things planned for him versus the Jaguars. However, the coach opted to be cautious with the veteran, who's still working his way back into game shape. "You get a healthy [Patterson] out there, that can certainly help our offense," Smith said, per Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Cleared for season debut
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Patterson (thigh) is active for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London.
Patterson will get the chance to make his 2023 debut after missing the Falcons' first three games while recovering from a thigh injury. Though he opened the 2022 campaign as the Falcons' starting running back, Patterson finds himself third on the depth chart this season behind standout first-round pick Bijan Robinson and second-year back Tyler Allgeier, who cleared 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie. As a result, the 32-year-old Patterson may not see much involvement on the ground in Week 4, but he's expected to step in as the Falcons' top kick returner while also filling a versatile "Joker" role on offense that could result in him lining up out of the backfield and as a receiver. It's unclear what kind of snap or touch count Patterson can expect Sunday.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Questionable for Sunday
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Patterson (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Patterson hasn't yet played this season, but he logged a pair of limited practices ahead of the Falcons' Week 4 tilt. It's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up in London, but Atlanta doesn't need to rush him along before he's fully healthy, with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier both performing well early in the season.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Another limited session
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Patterson (thigh) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Patterson maintained his activity level for a second straight day as he continues to be plagued by the thigh issue that has followed him since mid-August. The Falcons backfield is in good hands with the young duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, so the team may be exercising caution with Patterson to ensure he's 100 percent before getting him involved in the offense. Patterson is still waiting to make his season debut.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Limited Wednesday
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Patterson (thigh) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Patterson has been tending to a thigh issue since mid-August, which has caused him to miss the first three games of the campaign. It's unclear what kind of role he can expect once he's able to suit up in a backfield that boasts a formidable one-two punch in Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Before he'll have a chance to contribute to the Atlanta offense in any capacity, Patterson will need to completely move past the thigh concern.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Still out
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Patterson (thigh) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Lions, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Patterson missed Week 1 due to a thigh injury, but he was considered a healthy scratch for Week 2. It's unclear if he suffered a setback, but the veteran wasn't able to do much at practice during Week 3 prep and will miss a third straight game to start the season. Even when Patterson is cleared to suit up, he's expected to garner a modest gadget role on offense, as Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier have solidified themselves as Atlanta's top running backs moving forward.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Questionable for Sunday
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Patterson (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Detroit.
Patterson wasn't listed on the injury report Wednesday but then missed practice Thursday and was limited Friday. He was removed from the report last week before being inactive for a win over Green Bay, with his absence from the lineup possibly having more to do with the Falcons not needing him than his health. Whatever the case, Patterson apparently is bothered by his thigh again and now appears uncertain to play Week 3 for multiple reasons.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: DNP on Thursday
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Patterson (thigh) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice.
Patterson has been tending to a thigh injury since mid-August that sidelined him for the first two games of the campaign. Still, he avoided the Falcons' first Week 3 practice report entirely Wednesday before popping up Thursday as a DNP. There's no telling if Patterson suffered a setback with the aforementioned health concern, but his status now will be one to watch as the week goes on. If Patterson isn't able to suit up Sunday at Detroit, Atlanta will continue to deploy Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier out of its backfield.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Gets back to full participation
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Patterson (thigh) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Patterson was sidelined from around mid-August until last Wednesday due to a soft-tissue injury that the Falcons' Week 1 practice report later revealed as a thigh issue. He was a limited participant in all three sessions last week before being listed as questionable and then ultimately hitting the inactive list for this past Sunday's game against the Panthers. With an uncapped practice under his belt, Patterson should be set to handle his "Joker" role in Atlanta's offense, which will see him working all over the formation.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Won't play Week 1
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Patterson (thigh) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Panthers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Patterson suffered a soft-tissue injury in mid-August and was sidelined for the remainder of the preseason. He returned to practice Wednesday but logged three straight limited sessions before garnering a questionable designation. It's not surprising to see Atlanta exercise caution here, as Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier were expected to handle most of the backfield snaps anyway. Godwin Igwebuike, who was elevated Saturday, will serve as the depth running back versus Carolina.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Questionable to face Panthers
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Patterson (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Patterson was limited in practice this week and will go through pregame workouts Sunday before a final decision is made on his status for Week 1. He's been battling the injury since Aug. 14. Listed as a "JOKER" on the Falcons' posted depth chart, Patterson is expected to play all over the offense as a sub-package player in 2023.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Notches another limited practice
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Patterson (thigh) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
Patterson was sidelined from Aug. 14 onward due to what was eventually termed a thigh injury on Wednesday's practice report. He's now logged back-to-back capped sessions, putting himself in a position to be available to Atlanta's offense Sunday against the Panthers. Ultimately, Friday's report will reveal whether or not he heads into the weekend with an injury designation.
Patterson practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday due to a thigh injury, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
The Falcons finally provided clarity for the soft-tissue injury that Patterson has been dealing with since at least Aug. 14, labeling it as a thigh issue on their first practice report of Week 1 prep. Assuming the team clears him to play Sunday versus the Panthers, Patterson will be serving in the newly revealed "Joker" role, per the team's official depth chart. Working alongside receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier may not leave many touches for Patterson, but the presence of all of them may result in less defensive attention for the 11-year pro.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Back at practice Wednesday
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Patterson (undisclosed) returned to practice Wednesday, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reports.
Patterson has been sitting out drills since at least Aug. 14 due to a unknown soft-tissue injury, but his ability to get back on the field Wednesday bodes well for his Week 1 status. If he's able to suit up Sunday against the Panthers, he'll be serving in a "Joker" role, as the Falcons termed him on their first official depth chart of the season Tuesday, per Amna Subhan of the team's official site. What exactly his role entails is uncertain, but with Atlanta lacking depth at wide receiver behind Drake London and boasting a strong running-back duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, Patterson may be used all over the formation in 2023.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Looking unsure for opener
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Patterson (undisclosed) didn't practice Monday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Patterson has been sidelined since mid-August with an unspecified soft-tissue injury. He's thus in danger of missing Week 1 against Carolina, though it isn't clear that will have much impact on the offensive game plan for a team with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in the backfield. Even if he's healthy, Patterson might just be the No. 3 RB and kick returner at this point.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Being patient with injury
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Patterson's soft-tissue injury isn't serious, but the Falcons nonetheless plan to be patient, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
With Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier making it through the preseason healthy, the Falcons probably don't have many backfield snaps available for Patterson in any case. Of course, he can do a few other things, including returning kickoffs, so Patterson could still make a push to be active for a Week 1 home game against the Panthers. He's been held out of practice since mid-August.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Likely out rest of preseason
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Head coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday that Patterson (undisclosed) is likely to miss the remainder of the preseason, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Smith said more information about Patterson's status will be made available ahead of Week 1, but for now the veteran running back's status looks to be truly up in the air. Patterson is nursing an undisclosed soft-tissue injury. When healthy, Patterson could play a versatile role for the Falcons, contributing out of the backfield behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier and in the receiving game behind Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Misses practice Sunday
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Patterson missed practice Sunday due to an unspecified soft-tissue injury, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
The report notes that the same applies to WR Frank Darby as well as CBs Mike Hughes and Cornell Armstrong, with the players expected to miss "maybe a week or so," according to coach Arthur Smith. Based on that estimate, it appears as though Patterson -- who didn't appear in Atlanta's exhibition opener, along with several other key skill-position players -- won't be available for Friday's preseason game against the Bengals.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Will play versatile role in 2023
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Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Tuesday that he's excited Patterson is still with the team and added that having multiple versatile offensive threats is a "good problem to have," Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Patterson looked to be a potential cap casualty this offseason after the Falcons selected Bijan Robinson with the eighth overall in April's draft. However, Smith's recent comments suggest otherwise. Patterson has been a consistent offensive producer for Atlanta when healthy over the last two seasons, totaling 1,313 rushing yards, 670 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns across 29 appearances. He certainly won't be a workhorse running back anymore, a role that started to slip out of his hands last year with the emergence of Tyler Allgeier. Even so, Smith still seemingly plans to get Patterson involved in an offense that now features three top-10 picks at skill positions (Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts). Smith mentioned the possibility of Patterson working with the tight ends, wide receivers and running backs during his press conference Tuesday, so don't be surprised if the 32-year-old is utilized in a gadget role during the upcoming season. Fewer offensive responsibilities also means that Patterson could see more opportunities as a kick returner, something he's done sparingly since joining the Falcons.
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Falcons' Cordarrelle Patterson: Could end up a cap casualty
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Patterson and Tyler Allgeier are part of a backfield that now includes eighth overall pick Bijan Robinson, Scott Bair of AtlantaFalcons.com reports.
Robinson figures to lead the way ahead of a 32-year-old and a 2022 fifth-round pick, though both Patterson and Allgeier were effective ballcarriers last season in Arthur Smith's run-heavy offense, averaging 4.8 YPC and 4.9 YPC, respectively. Ultimately, it may just be Robinson and Allgeier handling backfield snaps, considering the Falcons will free up $4.25 million in cap space if they trade or release Patterson after June 1 (his $4.25 million base salary for 2023 isn't guaranteed). Barring an alteration to his contract, Patterson's status with the team will remain uncertain throughout the summer even if he remains on the roster and reports to training camp.
