FLOWERY BRANCH — Jerious Norwood practiced Friday for the first time this week, but the Atlanta Falcons are unsure if the second-year running back will play at Carolina.
Norwood, who left last week’s home victory over the San Francisco 49ers with a right ankle injury, is listed as questionable for Sunday. The former Mississippi State standout, a backup to starter Warrick Dunn, has averaged 5.9 yards per carry.
The Falcons (2-6) believe that tight end Alge Crumpler will be ready to face the Panthers (4-4) after listing him as probable.
Knee and ankle injuries sidelined Crumpler against New Orleans and San Francisco, marking the second time in his seven-year career that the four-time Pro Bowl selection missed two straight games.
Crumpler, who led the team in receiving the last three years and has played in 104 of Atlanta’s last 108 games, has practiced each of the three days players and coaches were on the field this week. His participation, however, has been limited.
He’s back
Defensive end John Abraham so dominated Travelle Wharton that Carolina’s left tackle limped off the field in the second quarter at Charlotte and was finished for the season.
Before kickoff, Abraham told Wharton not to take their battle personally. Both are former South Carolina Gamecocks, but Abraham warned his friend that he might have trouble moving as the game wore on.
"I would never try to hurt another player," Abraham said. "That’s not how you play the game. The way you do play the game is to go 110 percent on every snap and try to beat whoever’s trying to keep you from getting to the football."
Abraham, who had signed a contract worth $18 million in guarantees after the Falcons traded a first-round draft pick to acquire him, had six tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup against the Panthers.
An injury to Patrick Kerney, however, forced Atlanta to keep Abraham on the field for most of the game, and the Falcons paid dearly for their lack of depth.
With the outcome decided, Abraham injured his problematic groin and was never the same in 2006. He underwent surgery to correct the problem in Canada during the past offseason, and he looks like the player who earned three Pro Bowl invitations in six years with the New York Jets.
"I feel good," said Abraham, who has six sacks, 22 tackles, three passes defended and three forced fumbles this season. "That’s always been the thing in my career, just to stay healthy. If there’s nothing wrong with me physically, I believe that nobody can beat me."
Oh, no, not you again
The Falcons have lost four of their last five against Carolina. In the four defeats, Panthers running back DeShaun Foster trampled them for an average of 130 yards.
On 92 carries, Foster gained 5.8 yards per attempt.
"Plain and simple, we can’t let him or any running back beat us like that," Atlanta linebacker Michael Boley said. "He’s a great player, and we respect his ability, but we have to hold our ground and make them throw the ball more than they want to."
Foster hasn’t worked alone. His backup, second-year veteran DeAngelo Williams, gained a combined 129 yards on 32 carries in the last two games between the NFC South rivals.