Atlanta Falcons starting LB ruled out against Tampa Bay Buccaneers on TNF

The Atlanta Falcons’ already thin linebacker room is officially without another key piece Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen will not participate in the prime-time game due to a knee injury suffered during a special teams tackle late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 26-24 win over the Saints from New Orleans.

After his departure, Andersen was officially deemed questionable to return, but did not play on Atlanta’s final defensive drive. He was still in the team’s medical examination room 45 minutes after the game ended.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters Monday morning that Andersen was day-to-day, but was “in pretty good pain” immediately after Sunday’s game.

Andersen had a career-high 17 tackles against the Saints, along with an interception, which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown, the first of his NFL career. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.

Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said Andersen, who leads the team with 41 tackles, is playing at a high level.

“He’s studying his tail,” Lake said Tuesday. “He does the work behind the scenes that no one sees. He’s obviously extremely talented. He’s got great physical attributes. He’s fast, but really, really smart. We’re able to do a lot of different things with him.

“The revolutionary game he made will be one of many he will make here.”

Andersen entered the season in a rotation with linebacker Nate Landman, who started Week 1 and played 37 snaps to Andersen’s 31. But the Falcons placed Landman on injured reserve with quad and calf issues before Week 2, thrusting Andersen into a starting role.

Now facing both Landman and Andersen, the Falcons will turn to fifth-round rookie JD Bertrand alongside veteran starter Kaden Elliss. Bertrand played eight defensive snaps against the Buccaneers after playing just one in the previous three games.

The Falcons (2-2) and Buccaneers (3-1) kick off Thursday at 8:15 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.