FLOWERY BRANCH - Michael Vick saw Doug Johnson standing alone on the sideline as the Atlanta Falcons unraveled against Tampa Bay.
The injured superstar quarterback knew there was nothing he could say to console Johnson, a fourth-year backup who's trying to fill a huge void.
``It's like you get to a point where you're dealing with a situation that only you can control,'' Vick said. ``Nobody else can go out there and do the job but you, so it's all on you. You don't want to hear everybody saying, 'Do this, do that and don't worry about it,' because you're kind of in a state of mind where you have to work yourself through that.
``It's tough. The only thing I tried to tell him was to just keep going out there and try to make some positive plays. That's it.''
For the Falcons (1-2) to win Sunday at Carolina (2-0), Johnson must regain his composure. He has six of Atlanta's NFL-leading seven interceptions and managed only 95 yards passing after completing 13 of 19 attempts in last week's 31-10 loss to Tampa Bay.
``I put us in a hole we really couldn't climb out of,'' Johnson said. ``Interceptions kill you, you know?''
Vick, who stopped walking with crutches last week, will miss at least the next two games as he recovers from a bone he broke in his lower right leg Aug. 16. Though he attends meetings and occasionally passes through the locker room, Vick wants to keep a low profile.
He makes an effort to be out of sight when Johnson talks with reporters. Vick stood on the sideline and watched from a bench as the Falcons' offense struggled for the last six quarters.
``Doug knows I'm behind him 100 percent,'' Vick said. ``He's the leader of this team now, and he's going to get everything back on track. I believe that will all my heart.''
Vick thinks constantly about his return to the field. The earliest possible date is Oct. 13 at St. Louis, but a home game the following week against New Orleans is more likely.
``I'm getting closer, just a couple of more games away, man,'' Vick said. ``We'll just see how it goes.''
Vick electrified the NFL last year by setting four league records for rushing by a quarterback, but he also endured some tough stretches in his first full season as a starter.
Through his first nine games, Vick threw only two interceptions in 205 attempts, but he played sporadically in a 30-24 victory at Minnesota. Vick lost two fumbles and threw an interception against the Vikings, but he overcame his mistakes with a 39-yard touchdown pass and two touchdown runs that covered 28 and 46 yards.
Carelessness caught up with him as Atlanta went 1-3 in its final four games. Vick threw five interceptions during that stretch and lost a fumble in an overtime loss to Seattle that cornerback Willie Williams returned for a 25-yard touchdown.
Because Johnson isn't as athletically gifted as Vick, he must rely on his teammates more. Against the Bucs, Johnson showed no signs of correcting his mistakes, but he got little help from running backs Warrick Dunn, T.J. Duckett and Justin Griffith, who managed a paltry 29 yards rushing.
The Falcons had only two receivers, starters Peerless Price and Quentin McCord, available after No. 3 wideout Jimmy Farris sustained a mild concussion on special teams. Coach Dan Reeves had designated his fourth receiver, rookie Terrence Edwards, as Atlanta's emergency backup quarterback.
``It's a long season,'' Johnson said. ``You can't dwell on one game. We've got 13 more.''
NOTES: When the team returns to practice Wednesday, three starters nose guard Ed Jasper (back, ankle) and linebackers Sam Rogers (knee) and Chris Draft (foot) will be listed as questionable along with four reserves tight end Brian Kozlowski (calf), nose guard Ellis Johnson (shoulder), strong safety Gerald McBurrows (neck) and free safety Travaris Robinson (ankle). ... McCord has not caught a pass since Week 1, when he replaced Brian Finneran (broken left hand). ... The Falcons signed first-year offensive tackle Michael Saffer to the practice squad Tuesday and released receiver Jimmy Fryzel.
Thursday
April 3rd, 2025
7:17AM
