Ovie Mughelli Injury Not An ACL Tear, Which Is Good News

Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli was moved to injured reserve for the rest of the season following a knee injury sustained against Detroit that was initially thought to be an ACL tear, but turns out is a MCL tear. The fullback made the clarification in his weekly column running in the Charleston Post & Courier.

Mughelli is no less lost for the season by any means, but a MCL tear is a lesser injury compared to the ACL. Recovery time and the potential to achieve previous playing form are easier with MCL injuries. Mughelli describes his Eeyore type week after going down:

I cannot put into words how disheartening it is to be placed on injured reserve list. It's almost like you're not a part of team anymore. You start to question your mortality and how long you're going to be able to play this game at this level.

It took me a couple of days, maybe three, to get my head wrapped around the idea of not playing anymore this season.

I'll be honest, I was not a lot of fun to be around for most of the week. I pouted and was sullen and finally by Thursday night I'd snapped out of it.

It's just another challenge. It's just another obstacle that God has place in my path and it's one I'm confident that I will overcome.

VIDEO: New Falcons FB Mike Cox's Highlights, Both Of Them

The Atlanta Falcons And Ovie Mughelli: Where Do We Go From Here?

Ovie Mughelli Injury: How Terrified Should Falcons Fans Be? (We Don't Know)

Ovie Mughelli Injury: Mike Cox Signed By Falcons As Replacement

Tuesday night, the Atlanta Falcons confirmed reports that Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli will be placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury suffered against the Detroit Lions. The Falcons also announced the signing of former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Kansas City Chiefs fullback Mike Cox.

Also out for the year, according to the team: guard Mike Johnson. Former Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills lineman Kirk Chambers was announced as a new addition to the offensive line collective. Chambers played at Stanford, so he's probably not dumb at all.

Cox played in 39 games in three Kansas City seasons, starting 17 of them. He's more or less on par with Mughelli statistically, as far as receiving goes, making 22 career catches for 125 yards (Mughelli has 24 for 202 in his past three years), but it remains to be seen whether he can take on as big a role in the offense.

Expect Jason Snelling to also get some snaps at fullback. Or don't! Be surprised either way. Pretty good way to live life.

For the latest information on the Falcons, check out the SBNation blog The Falcoholic.

Ovie Mughelli Injury To End Falcons Pro Bowler's Season, According To Report

Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli will reportedly see his 2011 season come to a close after that knee injury he suffered against the Detroit Lions. Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Tuesday that the Pro Bowler is set to be placed on injured reserve, which will sideline him until next year. Mughelli took a Louis Delmas hit to his knee while catching a dump-off pass from Matt Ryan. Delmas immediately walked back to check on the downed fullback.

Kind of a shocker, considering Mughelli downplayed the injury and Mike Smith indicated the Falcons didn't have any season-ending injuries to speak of. That was before Smith knew the extent of the damage, of course.

This is a massive loss for Atlanta's offense. Michael Turner relies on his blocking back, but Mughelli's actually a better pass-catching option than is Turner. Jason Snelling can fill in at any running back position, but now we know why the team was reportedly working out Jason McKie and Mike Karney.

It's yet to be confirmed by the Falcons themselves.

Ovie Mughelli Injury: Falcons Eye Jason McKie, Mike Karney As Fill-Ins

With the injury status of Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl FB Ovie Mughelli still uncertain, the team has been working out a few possible replacements to fill the lead blocker position for star RB Michael Turner:

JasonLaCanfora Jason La Canfora 

Falcons working out FB Jason McKie today, also working out FB Mike Karney.

Both players are long-time NFL veterans who have not appeared in a game this season.

McKie, a 5'11 235 fullback, spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears in the middle of the decade. He was on the Baltimore Ravens roster last season, but did not appear in a game.

Karney, a 5'11 260 fullback, was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2006 when he was with the New Orleans Saints. He played for the St. Louis Rams the last two seasons, where he started 13 games and received eight carries.

For the latest information on the Falcons, check out the SBNation blog The Falcoholic.

Ovie Mughelli Injury Status: Not Done For Season, Apparently

In his weekly Monday press conference with the media, Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith all but confirmed that All-Pro FB Ovie Mughelli will not be out for the season, despite suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the Falcons game against Detroit on Sunday:

Atlanta_Falcons Atlanta_Falcons 

Smith: My policy is that if someone had a season ending injury, I would announce it. We just have some guys banged up. #atlbye11

However, with Atlanta entering its bye week and not playing again until Nov. 6 against Indianapolis, don't expect much additional information on Mughelli or any other Falcon injuries this week:

Atlanta_Falcons Atlanta_Falcons 

Smith: This week we are going radio silence on injuries. Won't have any news on injured players. #atlbye11

After their humiliating 62-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints on national TV, the Colts seem headed for a full-on pursuit of a 0-16 season and a chance at Stanford QB Andrew Luck, which could give the Falcons a get well week and a 5-3 record headed into a crucial home showdown with the NFC South leading Saints on Nov. 13.

For more Falcons news visit the SBNation blog The Falcoholic.

Ovie Mughelli Injury 'Looked Worse Than It Is,' Says Fullback

Ovie Mughelli, the Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl FB, suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, when safety Louis Delmas upended him as he was catching a dump-off pass in the fourth quarter.

However, on his Twitter account, Mughelli re-assured Falcons fans:

oviemughelli34 Ovie Mughelli 

Thx for all the love and support guys. I promise I'm ok. It looked worse than it is. I heard the slo mo looked bad on tv. I'll b back soon.

14 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

He will undergo tests on his knee on Monday, but the good news is he'll have two weeks to recover before Atlanta's game against the win-less Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 6.

Losing Mughelli, a two-time All-Pro selection, would be a blow to an Falcons rushing game averaging only 112.7 yards a game, 18th in the NFL. Mughelli is one of the few classic I-formation fullbacks prospering in an increasingly pass-happy NFL; he signed a 6-year $18 million contract with a $5 million signing bonus in 2007, the biggest contract ever given to a fullback at the time.

Ovie Mughelli Injury: Pro Bowler Takes Shot To Knee, Limps Off

Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli suffered a knee injury and was helped off the field in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions. The Pro Bowler was catching a dump-off pass from previously injured quarterback Matt Ryan, at which point he took an instant hit from cornerback Louis Delmas. Mughelli is questionable to return after being carted to the locker room.

Mughelli curled up and grabbed his knee as Delmas motioned for sideline help. Delmas was seen kneeling and perhaps praying while Mughelli was checked out by Falcons staff.

Trainers had to help the fullback off the field. He was clearly wincing, but he was able to put a little bit of weight on it as he approached the sideline.

He'll likely be replaced by Jason Snelling in two-back sets, but the Falcons may opt to stick with one-back formations for much of the rest of this game.

For more on this game visit Falcons blog The Falcoholic and Lions blog Pride Of Detroit, plus SB Nation Detroit.