Falcons RB Tevin Coleman Expected To Play In Week 5, Despite Sickle Cell Concern

Update:

Falcons HC Dan Quinn told reporters on Monday that RB Tevin Coleman is expected to play in their Week 5 matchup against the Broncos, despite concerns regarding his sickle cell trait, per D. Orlando Ledbetter.

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Falcons RB Tevin Coleman said that he’s unsure if he’ll be able to play in their Week 5 game against the Broncos due to his sickle cell trait.

“With my sickle cell, I have no idea if I’ll play there,’’ Coleman told Vaughn McClure ESPN.com. “I really don’t know how I’ll feel or how it will be like. I’ve never been to Denver.’’

The problem for Coleman and others with the sickle cell trait is that the disease can cause complications if they’re under physical stress in extremely hot weather or in environments with low oxygen, which happens to be the case in  the high altitude of Denver.

“It does make me scared a little bit, a little nervous, because I’m risking my life,’’ Coleman said. “We’ll have to see. I’ll have to talk to coach [Dan Quinn]. I guess coach will see how I feel when we get there. And I just have to communicate with him, if I am out there [playing], if I’m dead [tired] or can’t breathe. We just have to play it smart.’’

Coleman, 23, is a former third-round pick of the Falcons back in 2015. He’s currently in the second year of his four-year, $3.219 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $567,500 for the 2016 season.

In 2016, Coleman has appeared in two games and ran for 68 yards on 20 carries (3.4 YPC) to go along with seven receptions for 170 yards receiving and one total touchdown.