Latest update on Darnell Mooney is ominous

Among the injuries the Falcons are dealing with leading into the season, Darnell Mooney’s could have a significant impact if it lingers.

Mooney went down with a shoulder injury during the first week of practice and immediately walked off the field with a trainer. Soon after, the Falcons inked veteran wide receiver DJ Chark to a one-year contract. The two didn’t immediately seem to be connected. Morris hinted that Darnell Mooney would miss most of training camp, but it didn’t sound too serious. However, as we get closer to the season, it does seem as if Mooney missing regular season games is a distinct possibility.

On Tuesday, Raheem Morris had some very confusing comments regarding the wide receiver’s status moving forward.

“Kind of just waiting and rolling,” Morris said, via Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “Kind of a week-to-week basis. I feel good about getting him back healthy and ready to go. When? I don’t know. We’ll have him back healthy this year, though.”

The further you read, the less confident you get that Darnell Mooney will be ready for Week 1, and it’s possible he even misses a large chunk of the beginning of the season. That would be a huge blow to rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who already faces a steep learning curve without losing one of his top receiving threats.

For Kyle Pitts truthers, though, this could be a silver lining. With Mooney sidelined, the former fourth overall pick should see more opportunities in the offense, potentially building a crucial early-season rapport with Penix. That connection could end up paying dividends much later in the season, when Mooney should be on the field as well.