Falcons QB Matt Ryan officially ruled out against Seahawks
The Atlanta Falcons have officially ruled out quarterback Matt Ryan against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Ryan suffered an ankle injury and left last Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter.
With Ryan set to miss the contest versus the Seahawks, his streak of 154 straight starts, which is the second-longest active starts streak in the NFL heading into the weekend, will come to an end. The last time Ryan missed a start was December 2009.
Veteran backup signal caller Matt Schaub will start in his place.
Ryan suffered his ankle injury on a hit from Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. After the hit, Ryan walked gingerly to the sideline and didn't return. He reportedly wore a walking boot after the game.
The 34-year-old quarterback ditched the walking boot late this week and practiced a little on Friday, but he's still apparently not well enough to go Sunday.
Schaub will make his third start for the Falcons but the first one since 2005. He's in his fourth season with the Falcons since returning for a second stint with the team in 2016. His last start came with the Baltimore Ravens in 2015.
He is 47-45 as a starter. All but four of those starts came with the Houston Texans from 2007-13.
In addition to ruling out Ryan, the Falcons signed quarterback Danny Etling off the practice squad and to the active roster. He will serve as the backup to Schaub against the Seahawks.
In a corresponding move, the Falcons released offensive lineman John Wetzel.