NFC Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Falcons

• Per the Athletic’s Tori McElhaney, Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris said WR Julio Jones will probably end up being a game-time decision Sunday after leaving this past week with a hamstring injury. 
• Falcons signed WR Devin Gray and RB Tony Brooks-James to their practice squad. (NFLTR)
• Falcons released LB Jake Carlock from their practice squad.

Panthers

The much-maligned Panthers defense had its best game of the season by far on Sunday and one of the best games any Panthers defense has had in years, registering its first shutout since 2015 in a 20-0 win against the Lions. Key to that effort was 2019 first-round DE Brian Burns, who had a hand in three of Carolina’s five sacks and finished with two total. He credited DC Phil Snow with a terrific gameplan. 

“The game plan was great,” Burns said via the Athletic’s Joe Person. “They had no idea where we were coming from. They didn’t know if I was dropping, covering the slot, covering the back or if I was rushing off the edge or going into the B-gap. We were sending guys from all over the place and they messed up their protection a lot.”

• Panthers HC Matt Rhule expects QB Teddy Bridgewater to return to practice on Wednesday. (Joe Person)
• However, he was less firm about the status of RB Christian McCaffrey, saying they’ll see where he is Wednesday and characterizing him as “week-to-week.” 
• McCaffrey is not expected to play, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
• Rhule mentioned Bridgewater was cleared medically and wanted to play against the Lions Sunday, but he thought the best move was to sit him. (David Newton)

Saints

• Per ESPN’s Mike Triplett, Saints HC Sean Payton said it was nice to finally see QB Taysom Hill in the role they originally planned when claiming him: “Make no mistake, when we claimed him off waivers, our vision was of him as a quarterback.”