Cordarrelle Patterson
It was a rare week of happy returns in the NFL.

After only one kick or punt was returned for a touchdown in the first 10 weeks of the season, two were taken back in memorable fashion on Sunday.
Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson returned a kickoff 103 yards to become the NFL career leader with nine touchdowns.
ATLANTA (AP) — Marcus Mariota and the Atlanta Falcons are still under .500 and still in the thick of the NFC South race.
ATLANTA (AP) — Nine games have revealed the Atlanta Falcons to be a team with limitations on defense and in their passing game.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons bolstered their backfield for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers by activating running back Cordarrelle Patterson from injured reserve.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have remained consistent in their commitment to running the ball without becoming predictable.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson returned to practice on Wednesday after missing four games following knee surgery.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will miss Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay with a hamstring injury.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are about to see how good their ground game is without Cordarrelle Patterson.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons must find a new starting running back after placing Cordarrelle Patterson on injured reserve on Monday with a knee injury.
ATLANTA (AP) — Falcons coach Arthur Smith knows what to expect from a Cleveland Browns offense that revolves around Nick Chubb’s powerful runs.
ATLANTA (AP) — It’s time to put away any thoughts that Cordarrelle Patterson’s move from wide receiver to running back was destined to be a short-lived experiment.
SEATTLE (AP) — In the aftermath of a narrow loss, another debatable decision from Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll quickly became a focal point.
SEATTLE (AP) — After more than a week away from home, Cordarrelle Patterson wasn’t about to head back to Atlanta as one of two winless teams in the NFL.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons placed backup running back Damien Williams on injured reserve with a rib injury on Saturday.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons running back Damien Williams was held out of practice for the second consecutive day with a rib injury on Thursday, leaving his status uncertain for Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams.
ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)

New faces: QB Marcus Mariota, WR Drake London, CB Casey Hayward, WR Bryan Edwards, RB Damien Williams, OLB Lorenzo Carter, LB Rashaan Evans, OG Elijah Wilkinson, P Bradley Pinion, OL Germain Ifedi, QB Desmond Ridder, RB Tyler Allgeier.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons had a 100% turnout — but not full participation — on Tuesday’s opening day of their mandatory minicamp.
ATLANTA (AP) — After a disappointing season with his hometown team, running back Mike Davis was released Monday by the Atlanta Falcons.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)

LAST SEASON: The Falcons were outscored 459-313, making seven wins something of an accomplishment under first-year coach Arthur Smith.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons addressed one of their biggest offseason priorities by agreeing to terms on a new contract Saturday with all-purpose standout Cordarrelle Patterson.
ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB Cordarrelle Patterson, LB Foyesade Oluokun, TE Lee Smith, TE Hayden Hurst, S Erik Harris, PK Younghoe Koo, WR Russell Gage, QB A.J.
ATLANTA (7-8) at BUFFALO (9-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Atlanta 6-9, Buffalo 9-6.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When Kyle Shanahan was scouting prospects before the 2013 draft, Cordarrelle Patterson stood out for his ability as a wide receiver to take handoffs out of the backfield and turn them into big plays.
ATLANTA (6-7) at SAN FRANCISCO (7-6)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, Fox

BETTING LINE: 49ers by 9 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
Matt Ryan threw for 190 yards and a touchdown, Mykal Walker returned an interception of Cam Newton 66 yards for a touchdown and the Atlanta Falcons continued to play well on the road with a 29-21 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
ATLANTA (AP) — Home is not-so sweet for the Atlanta Falcons.

If they can’t figure out a way to win their final two games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they are headed for a fourth straight losing season.
ATLANTA (AP) — Cordarrelle Patterson made sure the Falcons finally produced a 100-yard rusher after they went 22 games without one.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons finally found some room to run, just enough to help them stay on the fringe of the NFC playoff picture.