Injury to Falcons QB Matt Ryan not serious

Posted Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 0 comments  Print Reprints

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Super Bowl XLVII

49ers vs. Ravens

5:30 p.m. Feb. 3,

New Orleans

TV: KTVT/Ch. 11


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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan sprained his left shoulder in the closing minutes of the NFC Championship Game, but he would have been able to play in the Super Bowl had Atlanta won, according to coach Mike Smith.

Smith said Ryan will need three to four weeks to recover from the injury, which was described as a sprained AC joint to the non-throwing shoulder. No surgery is required.

Ryan was hurt just after the two-minute warning. On a 5-yard pass that Jason Snelling took down to the San Francisco 10, 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks got a shot on Ryan. The quarterback's next two passes were incomplete, sealing the 49ers' 28-24 victory.

Smith would not confirm that Ryan's shoulder had to be popped back into the joint after the game.

Shurmur to Eagles

Former Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur is joining Chip Kelly's staff with the Philadelphia Eagles, a person familiar with the hiring told The Associated Press on Monday.

Shurmur is expected to be Philadelphia's offensive coordinator, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Eagles haven't announced any coaching moves.

Shurmur went 9-23 in two seasons in Cleveland. He was fired along with general manager Tom Heckert on Dec. 31.

Shurmur began his NFL coaching career with the Eagles, serving as an assistant under Andy Reid for 10 seasons.

Hiring Shurmur is somewhat curious considering he's a disciple of the West Coast offense, which relies heavily on passes based on timing and rhythm. Kelly uses an up-tempo, spread offense that's centered around a mobile quarterback and incorporates more running.

Kelly is expected to call the plays for the Eagles, but Shurmur's experience developing quarterbacks could make him a valuable assistant.

Ravens to keep OC

Jim Caldwell will remain the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator next season.

Caldwell, a former Colts head coach, moved from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator on Dec. 9 after coach John Harbaugh fired Cam Cameron.

With Caldwell directing the offense, the Ravens have won three straight playoff games to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2000 season. This is the first time Caldwell has ever served as an offensive coordinator at any level.

Briefs

TV ratings slip: The NFC Championship Game drew 42 million viewers Sunday, down from 57.6 million for last season's game. The AFC Championship Game had 47.7 million viewers, compared with 48.7 million last year.

Pro Bowl: Multiple replacements were named Monday for players either injured or participating in the Super Bowl. Among the notable ones: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson replaces Matt Ryan; Colts QB Andrew Luck replaces Patriots QB Tom Brady; Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas and G Zane Beadles replace the Patriots' Wes Welker and Logan Mankins; Texans TE replaces the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski; and Bills RB C.J. Spiller, DT Kyle Williams and S Jairus Byrd replace the Ravens' Ray Rice, Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed.

Cardinals: New coach Bruce Arians has hired Todd Bowles, a former Cowboys secondary coach, as defensive coordinator, along with Harold Goodwin as offensive coordinator and Tom Moore as assistant head coach/offense.

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