Koo's miss adds to Falcons' long list of ways to lose games
Eight of the Atlanta Falcons' 11 losses this season have come by an average of 3.5 pointsDECEMBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
HAYDEN HURST #88 - TIGHT END - LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
65 YDS •
7 REC •
0 TD
65 YDS
7 REC
0 TD
Scores in second straight game Hurst corralled all five of his targets for 47 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Chiefs.
Impact Hurst tallied his second TD in as many games, punching in a score at the 3:35 mark of the second quarter via a Matt Ryan shovel pass. The 27-year-old tight end has shattered career highs across the board, with 52 receptions, 543 receiving yards and five TDs heading into a Week 17 finale against the Buccaneers. Hurst scored against Tampa Bay last Sunday in a 31-27 loss, a not-so-infrequent pattern for tight ends as the Buccaneers have surrendered eight to the position in 2020.
DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons watch near-perfect Koo miss costly FG in loss to KC
The one thing the Atlanta Falcons could count on all season was Younghoe Koo, their Pro Bowl kicker who had made 27 consecutive field-goal attemptsDECEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chiefs clinch No. 1 seed when Falcons' Koo misses late FG
Patrick Mahomes threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson with just under two minutesDECEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hayden Hurst channels freight train to turn shovel pass into TD Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst channels freight train to turn shovel pass into a touchdown.
DECEMBER 27, 2020 • NFL.COM
Perplexing Falcons reach 10 losses with another blown lead
The Atlanta Falcons have reached 10 losses for the first time since 2014DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rakes in fourth TD of 2020 Hurst caught four of five targets for 21 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 31-27 loss to the Buccaneers.
Impact The 27-year-old was held under 25 receiving yards for a third consecutive outing, but his third-quarter TD grab snapped a seven-game scoring drought. Hurst was right near his season average of 5.4 targets per game in Week 15, as Julio Jones (hamstring) sat out a second straight contest. Hurst could be lined up for another solid outing in Week 16, taking on a Chiefs defense that's surrendered the sixth-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends this season.
DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons endure familiar, disappointing theme in loss to Bucs
Interim coach Raheem Morris knew the Falcons were in trouble as soon as he saw Tyler Hall line up against Antonio BrownDECEMBER 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Comeback, Part II: Brady breaks Falcons' hearts again, 31-27
Tom Brady staged another big comeback against the Atlanta Falcons and didn’t even need overtime this teamDECEMBER 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posts just one reception Hurst secured one of his three targets for seven yards during Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Chargers.
Impact After serving as a high-floor fantasy tight end for much of the first half of 2020, Hurst has fallen into a slump over the past quarter of the regular season. The South Carolina standout posted 45.7 receiving yards per game with three total touchdowns Weeks 1 through 9; however, he's been held under 10 receiving yards in three of his past four outings. Hurst has gone seven straight contests without finding the end zone as the Falcons prepare to host Tampa Bay in Week 15.
DECEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan's interceptions create area of concern for Falcons
Matt Ryan threw three interceptions in the second half of Atlanta's 20-17 loss in Los Angeles with the last two coming as he was leading the offense into field-goal range with the...DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matt Ryan throws costly picks in Falcons' loss to Chargers
The Atlanta Falcons had two opportunities in the final four minutes to defeat the Los Angeles ChargersDECEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hayden Hurst honored by NFL for sharing his story Hayden Hurst has been named Week 13 NFLPA Community MVP.
DECEMBER 11, 2020 • 247SPORTS.COM
Ready to face Chargers Hurst (ankle) doesn't have a designation on the final injury report for Sunday's game against the Chargers, William McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Hurst was a limited practice participant Wednesday through Friday, never truly appearing in danger of missing Sunday's game. The Saints shut him down twice in the past three weeks, but he should fare better against an inferior defense, and there's potential for a good number of targets with Julio Jones (hamstring) already ruled out.
DECEMBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Limited in practice Thursday Hurst (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact With yet another capped session under his belt, Hurst doesn't appear to be getting any healthier from the ankle issue that's plagued him for a third straight week. His status should continue to be monitored as the week goes on, especially with Julio Jones not able to practice yet this week due to a hamstring injury.
DECEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Limited Wednesday Hurst (ankle) was limited at Wednesday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Since the Falcons' Week 10 bye, Hurst has been contained as a pass catcher, recording five receptions (on 14 targets) for 57 yards and no touchdowns. He's also dealt with an ankle issue during that stretch, which could be to blame for the decrease in production. Hurst has two more chances to bump up to full activity before Atlanta has a decision to make on his status for Sunday's road game against the Chargers.
DECEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons continue to seek answers to solve red-zone problems
The Falcons leaned too heavily on kicker Younghoe Koo in their 21-16 loss to the New Orleans SaintsDECEMBER 7, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Another down week against Saints Hurst caught one of his four targets for nine receiving yards during Sunday's 21-16 loss to New Orleans.
Impact Hurst has been held under 48 receiving yards in two of his past seven appearances, with both down outings coming against the Saints. Those weren't merely slightly disappointing performances from the third-year tight end, either. To go with his one-catch, nine-yard Sunday showing, Hurst went without a single reception over two targets Week 11 against the Saints. The 27-year-old's next matchup comes against a Chargers defense that ranks eighth best in the NFL with 507 receiving yards allowed to opposing TEs, but that is also tied for second worst with nine TDs surrendered to the position.
DECEMBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Attains clearance for Week 13 Hurst (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Saints, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports.
Impact Hurst's availability for the Week 13 contest looked to be in jeopardy after he failed to practice Thursday, but the Falcons cleared him to play after he returned to work Friday in a limited fashion. After being held without a reception for the only time this season in the Falcons' Week 11 loss to the Saints, Hurst has nowhere to go but up in the rematch.
DECEMBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Jones back at practice for Falcons, questionable vs. Saints
Julio Jones returned to practice as a limited participant \and is listed as questionable for the Atlanta Falcons’ game against the New Orleans SaintsDECEMBER 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Downturn in practice activity Hurst (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Considering Hurst opened the week with a limited practice Wednesday, the step back he took in terms of activity a day later is somewhat concerning. The Falcons may have been deliberately withholding Hurst from the session as part of a pre-planned maintenance program, but he'll likely need to get back on the field in some capacity Friday to have a realistic shot at suiting up Sunday against the Saints. Luke Stocker and Jaeden Graham are the Falcons' backup options at tight end, with Graham representing the greater threat in the passing game of the two.
DECEMBER 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Hurst on Raheem Morris: 'A switch-up has been good for this team' Atlanta Falcons TE Hayden Hurst joins
DECEMBER 3, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Limited in practice Hurst was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice with a knee injury, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Hurst hasn't yet missed a game this season, though he did pop up on the injury report with an ankle issue in late November. The fact that the tight end is practicing in at least a limited capacity to start the week is a hint that he's trending in the right direction for Sunday's game against the Saints, barring any setbacks.
DECEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Records four catches Week 12 Hurst caught four of eight targets for 48 receiving yards during Sunday's 43-6 win against the Raiders.
Impact Hurst laid an egg Week 11 with zero receptions on his two targets, but he bounced back with another solid pass-catching performance Sunday. Hurst has posted at least four receptions in five of his six appearances dating back to Week 6, averaging 48.2 receiving yards per game with one total TD during that span. He's enjoyed a healthy workload of 6.4 targets per game in his debut campaign in Atlanta, and he'll now pivot his attention to a Week 13 matchup against division rival New Orleans.
NOVEMBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Suiting up Sunday Hurst (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Hurst logged just one limited practice this week before the Falcons tagged him as questionable for this contest. Still, it was enough to gain clearance to play Sunday, which cannot be said for Julio Jones (hamstring). With both Jones and Todd Gurley (knee) sidelined, their combined 9.7 targets per game will be up for grabs for the likes of Hurst, Calvin Ridley and company to take advantage of the Raiders' 28th-ranked pass defense (273.6 yards per game).
NOVEMBER 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
