Falcons WR Josh Ali OUT vs. Jaguars

The Atlanta Falcons have made an injury decision on receiver Josh Ali ahead of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When the Atlanta Falcons boarded the plane Thursday night for a lengthy flight to London, they did so without receiver Josh Ali.

After being limited in practice Wednesday and not participating Thursday due to an ankle injury, Ali didn't travel across the pond with the Falcons for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and was officially ruled out Friday.

Atlanta also designated running back/joker Cordarrelle Patterson as questionable with a thigh injury.

Ali, in his second season after going undrafted out of Kentucky in 2022, was a healthy scratch in the first two games of the season. He was active in this past Sunday's 20-6 loss to the Detroit Lions but didn't see any action.

As a rookie, Ali played in two games with 14 total offensive snaps but failed to post any statistics. The 24-year-old impressed this summer, earning Atlanta's No. 5 receivers job over a bevy of challengers.

Ali, who stands at 6-0, 200 pounds, developed strong chemistry with Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder last year and illustrated that throughout training camp, though he hasn't been able to translate it onto the field in the regular season.

"Any of those times that you have guys that you're together through a long period of time, whether it's rookie year (or) scout team, you start to build a relationship and connection with those guys," Ridder said earlier this summer. "I would definitely say me and Josh have a connection.

"He's a great player for us."

Josh Ali looks on during training camp / USA Today

Falcons receivers coach T.J. Yates echoed similar sentiments during training camp, touching on Ali's growth since arriving in Atlanta last spring.

"He's come along really well," Yates said. "Coming in midway through the year last year, getting used to our program and everything that we really do. Josh is doing a good job - he's playing multiple positions, kind of learning on the fly because last year. Every single day for him is another day learning and trying to get better. But he's done a great job."

Without Ali, the Falcons stand with only four active receivers on the roster and could look to elevate one from the practice squad; Zay Malone, Chris Blair and C.J. Saunders are the three wideouts eligible to be brought up.

The Falcons (2-1) will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) at 9:30 a.m. EST on Sunday inside Wembley Stadium.