Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

Cole twisted his ankle in practice today and his status is uncertain right now. I would think that they would have a much better idea tomorrow morning. Hopefully he will be good enough to play Thursday night on ESPN.

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/article.jsp?id=7912

My guess is that Cole will be on the field, and I don't need to know about the condition of his ankle.

Don't be so sure. Putting guys on the injured list is a way that NFL teams will stash players that they don't want to lose, but are not convinced can contribute this season. If they were to deem this ankle injury season ending they can put him on IR, and he doesn't use a roster spot. He'll get paid like he's on the roster, and they don't have to expose him to other teams.

Many teams do this with players who they feel have upside, but they don't think are ready right away. They'll take a small injury, say its season-ending, and then get them into camp again next season. This way they don't have to put them on the practice squad which means that a player has to be cut, clear waivers, and then can still be pulled away by any other team willing to put the player on their active roster.

HAMMB I do agree that this is a common thing for NFL teams to do, but Cole is a tough kid he'll play through it

FalconFanatic wrote:HAMMB I do agree that this is a common thing for NFL teams to do, but Cole is a tough kid he'll play through it

I think the key to hammb's point is that it won't be up to Cole to play through it. The Falcons will make the decision for him, either way.

FWIW, Cole is now listed fourth on the depth chart at the X receiver behind Dez White, Finneran, and Roddy White. He is also back third at punt return behind Rossum and Hall.

1987alum wrote:

FalconFanatic wrote:HAMMB I do agree that this is a common thing for NFL teams to do, but Cole is a tough kid he'll play through it

I think the key to hammb's point is that it won't be up to Cole to play through it. The Falcons will make the decision for him, either way.

You've got it '87. I've got a feeling that this could turn out to be a lingering ankle sprain that they feel will eat up his season. They'll throw him on IR.

They like Cole, they think with another year of seasoning he can become a contributor to the team. They are not convinced, however, that he's ready to contribute this season.

This is not uncommon, and it would be, at the very least, a sign that the Falcons like Cole enough to keep him around.

If they like him enough not to risk exposing him to the practice squad, IR is the way to go.

You see this more in the NBA than the NFL, but it does happen