Report: Falcons Preparing To Play Without Devonta Freeman

While the rest of us are munching on turkey and mashed potatoes and crescent rolls. . .mmmmm, crescent rolls. . .the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons are preparing to do battle at the Georgia Dome on Sunday afternoon. According to reports, the home team might be preparing to go ahead without one of their biggest offensive weapons.

Falcons HC Dan Quinn said RB Devonta Freeman will not practice today and team is preparing as if he will not play Sunday vs Vikings.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 26, 2015

Going into this weekend's action, Freeman ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing yards with 764, and his nine rushing touchdowns give him the league lead in that category. He took a helmet-to-helmet shot in the first quarter of the Falcons' game last weekend against the Indianapolis Colts and did not return to action.

If Freeman is unable to go, the Falcons would likely start rookie Tevin Coleman in his place. Coleman was the Falcons' third-round pick in this year's draft, and was originally named the Falcons' starter at running back because of an injury to Freeman. However, Freeman took the job back after Coleman had to deal with some injury issues of his own and hasn't let go of it since. On the season, Coleman has 41 carries for 180 yards and a touchdown.

Obviously you hate to see injury affect your opponents in any meaningful way, but you would think that Freeman likely being on the shelf for the Falcons would play to Minnesota's advantage this Sunday. Hopefully the Vikings' defense will be up to the task after a rough game last Sunday.