Darnell Mooney injury update: Latest on Falcons WR's status for Week 18 game vs Panthers

Darnell Mooney popped up on the Falcons' injury report right before their Week 18 game against the Panthers, which will determine if they will play beyond the regular season or not. Atlanta's overtime loss to Washington in Week 17 was not only heartbreaking for their fans, it also changed the complexion of the playoff race.

Tied with Tampa Bay entering the game, the Falcons are now 8-8 and a game behind the division-leading 9-7 Bucs. They need to win against the Panthers to have any chance of making the postseason and hope the Saints defeat the current NFC South toppers. Atlanta's superior head-to-head record over the Buccaneers gives them an edge should they finish with the same win-loss record.

The Panthers are bottom of the NFC South and have a 4-12 record. The Falcons will hope that they can overcome them even without Darnell Mooney. However, no divisional match is easy and it is something they are hoping falls in their favor as 5-11 New Orleans takes on Tampa Bay. To ensure that the same fate does not befall them, they will hope their starting wide receiver is in the lineup to face Carolina.

Darnell Mooney's Week 18 injury update

Darnell Mooney showed up Thursday on the injury report for the first time this week. He was limited in practice with a shoulder injury. If Falcons fans thought that it was just a niggle that would become better, they received a sobering update on Friday when the wide receiver did not practice at all. He is officially listed as questionable going into the game.

How has Darnell Mooney performed this season?

This is Darnell Mooney's most productive season since 2021 with the Bears. In the last two years in Chicago, he never hit the 500-yard mark and finished with 907 yards in total for 2022 and 2023 combined. His production in the red zone was nothing to talk about either as he recorded three touchdowns in the same period.

This year, he has already exceeded both those numbers with one game left to play. He looks revitalized and has picked up 992 yards and five touchdowns. If he is not able to go in Week 18 against the Panthers, he will miss out on a 1000-yard season. If he is does feature, though, it is almost certain that he will reach the four-digit mark and could also try to better his 2021 mark of 1,055 yards.

The 15.5 yards per carry that he is averaging is the highest of his career and shows how he has found a new lease of life despite the Falcons having issues with their quarterback position. Kirk Cousins' diabolical form for five weeks, where he there one touchdown and nine interceptions, saw him benched for Michael Penix Jr. The rookie has also thrown a pick in each of his two starts.

The veteran quarterback's final start against the Raiders was also Darnell Mooney's nadir this season. He had one target, zero receptions, and zero yards. Had the throwing been a bit more competent in that game, it is possible that Darnell Mooney might have already reached 1,000 yards and whether he played against the Panthers or not would have been a moot point personally.

But the team certainly needs him now more than ever with their season on the line. The best case scenario for the Falcons is if they can win against a poor team without their starting wide receiver and the Bucs lose to the Saints. In that case, they would look to have Darnell Mooney patched up for the playoffs. Conversely, though, if the injury is more serious than what has been revealed until now, it could mean a premature end to his season.