Team news: Tennessee Titans | Page 32

According to the Atlanta Falcons on Twitter, Atlanta Falcons star receiver Calvin Ridley missed Thursday's practice with an ankle injury.

An ankle injury is nothing to scoff at, but missing the team's first practice session of the week is not a cause to press the panic button. Ridley has two more days to return to the practice field. This is a situation to monitor, but the expectation is that he will be able to play on Monday. Ridley has been elite so far this season and is our number two overall receiver for Week 4.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow has established chemistry with WR Tyler Boyd, according to Mitch Stacy of the Associated Press. Stacy also mentioned the developing chemistry between Burrow and rookie WR Tee Higgins and the slow start for WR A.J. Green.

Burrow has looked like a rookie QB at times, but the connection he has with Tyler Boyd is impossible to miss. The two connected for 10 catches on 13 targets in Week 3, and Boyd has 18 catches over the past two games. Boyd is the WR1 in Cincinnati and will continue to be peppered with targets.

In his Bears-Falcons preview, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic focused on Falcons WR Calvin Ridley's matchup against the Bears secondary. “Yeah, he’s a game wrecker,” defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said. “He’s fast, he’s elusive, he’s a great route runner. He can set you up, all of the guys he’s been running, he’s turned around every corner he’s played so far. And you go back and watch him in ’19 I mean he’s just a phenomenal football player.

This game is predicted to produce a lot of offense, but one stat to remember: The Bears secondary has yet to give up a touchdown. That streak is bound to end, and Ridley is an excellent bet to end it. Ridley won't put up 100 yards and two TDs weekly, but expect him to lead the Falcons receivers for a third straight week.

In all, the Bengals wheeled out seven plays with five receivers Sunday.

You know how many times they did this all last year? Zero.

You know how many times the rest of the league did this Sunday? One play by the Bills.

Related players: A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, John Ross, Mike Thomas, Auden Tate, Alex Erickson, Joe Mixon, Joe Burrow

The concept became a staple of his record-breaking season at LSU as his new offensive coordinator Joe Brady shifted from traditional six- and seven-man protections to the five-man protections with everyone out in the route to spread the field. The story added the Bengals ran more plays in five receivers than every team except Pittsburgh has over the last two full seasons. The entire league only ran five wide receivers for 25 total plays last season. The Steelers (17) led the way, Jaguars (four) were next and no other team had more than one. HC Zac Taylor said he wants to get the above WRs on the field because he feels there is a lot of talent there. But it also means pulling guys like Joe Mixon off the field at the same time.

Running back Justin Jackson suffered a quad injury Sunday, which opened the door for rookie Joshua Kelley, who had entered the game as the third running back on the depth chart.

“When my number gets called, I have to make the most of my opportunities,” Kelley said after the game.

Related players: Austin Ekeler

Kelley was a star at camp and many felt he would open as the team's RB2 behind Ekeler, but instead it was Jackson. But door is likely open for Kelley now. Kelley broke off a 26-yard run on his third carry of the game. He finished the game with 60 yards on 12 carries and scored the Chargers’ lone touchdown when he capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive with a 5-yard run. Kelley also showed his strength and physicality, the story all said. It's a situation to watch for those who want to handcuff Ekeler.