Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons QB Matt Ryan plays through bloody hand injury in Week 8

By Adam Stites | Last updated Oct 31, 2021 2:56 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had the bloodiest Halloween in the NFL after suffering an injury to his left hand in a Week 8 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

Ryan, 36, had his hand stepped on by a Panthers pass rusher in the second quarter and it immediately started pouring blood.

Matt Ryan got stepped on… this isn’t Halloween blood. This is real pic.twitter.com/g2VsPX6Ryl
— the Sports ON Tap (@thesportsontap) October 31, 2021

While Ryan didn't leave the game, he threw an interception shortly after the injury occurred. The Falcons got the ball one more time before halftime, but Ryan didn't throw a pass again until the third quarter. A cleaned up Ryan with a glove on his left hand got back on track with an 18-yard pass on the first play of the second half.

Ryan has been an iron man over the course of his NFL career, missing only three games since he was drafted by the Falcons in 2008. Two of those absences came in 2009 due to a toe injury and the third missed game was because of an ankle injury suffered in 2019. It's going to take more than blood on his non-throwing hand to keep Ryan out of action.

Adam Stites

Adam Stites is a Southern California native who lives in a new state every three months. He’s perennially disappointed by both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona State Sun Devils. His dog is named Ramsey after the best cornerback in the NFL

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