Falcons Upgrade Chandler to Probable for Sunday

The Atlanta Falcons received good news Thursday when quarterback Chris Chandler was deemed ready to play.

“I would say he’s been upgraded from questionable to probable,” Coach Dan Reeves said after practice. “It looks pretty good. He’s had two good days of practice. I think he’ll be able to go.”

Chandler injured his right hamstring in the season opener, missed the next game, tried to come back too soon and played only the opening quarter in a 34-7 loss to the St. Louis Rams in the third game before sitting out the last two weeks.

Chandler will probably start Sunday against the Rams (4-0), the only unbeaten team in the NFL.

In Chandler’s appearance Sept. 26 against St. Louis, he completed five of nine passes for only 28 yards and one interception before aggravating his hamstring.

Though Reeves stopped short of saying Chandler will start, the 12-year veteran has been listed No. 1 on the depth chart all season. Backup Tony Graziani started three of the last four games.

Chandler was unavailable for comment after practice.

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Injuries hit the New York Jets again, with safety Steve Atwater sidelined by a hamstring problem.

Atwater, the free safety signed as a free agent in the off-season from the Denver Broncos, was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with Indianapolis. He will be replaced in the starting lineup by Omar Stoutmire, who was signed earlier this month.

Atwater is the sixth regular and second member of the secondary to be hurt this season.

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Detroit linebacker Stephen Boyd will miss at least this week’s game against Minnesota because of a foot injury, the team said.

Boyd, 27, suffered the unspecified injury in Detroit’s 20-10 loss to San Diego on Sunday. He’ll be replaced this week by Richard Jordan and Scott Kowalkowski, Coach Bobby Ross said.

Boyd leads the Lions with 32 tackles. He has led the team in tackles the past two seasons and signed a six-year contract extension before the season.