Chiefs vs. Falcons: Ricardo Allen expected to play for Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons are expecting safety Ricardo Allen back in time to face the Chiefs on Sunday.

For the last six seasons, Ricardo Allen has been a familiar face in the Atlanta Falcons secondary as a starting safety. Unfortunately, this season he’s dealt with injury and a concussion over the course of the year that’s kept him out of a few games. This week, however, interim head coach Raheem Morris says the team is expecting Allen to return from concussion protocol in time to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.

The Falcons are out of playoff contention, so officially there’s not a lot for Allen and company to play for. However, if Morris wants a real chance to coach the Falcons beyond the 2020 season or to enhance his fortunes with another team, a strong showing on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions would go a long way. The same can be said of numerous players with every financial incentive to end the season on a high note.

As the Falcons fifth round pick back in the 2014 NFL Draft, Allen has provided significant returns for Atlanta over the last several years. That said, the team’s defense has been subpar for several seasons and it’s not as if Allen is known as a major playmaker. Still he’s a long-term starter for a secondary that’s missed his presence since Week 13. Allen has 18 tackles, 4 passes deflected, and 1 interception in 10 games so far this season. He’s allowed just over 55 percent of passes thrown his way to be completed, three of which went for touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference.