Devonta Freeman

Falcons RB Tevin Coleman unsure if he'll play in Denver due to sickle cell trait

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:04 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The Atlanta Falcons have rolled to three consecutive victories after dropping their season opener to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Matt Ryan and his MVP-caliber performance have obviously played a huge part in that, but the running game has been outstanding, too.

Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman have given Atlanta one of the best backfield duos in football, but the tandem might be cut in half in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos.

Coleman is unsure whether he’ll be able to play in the team’s road game in Denver because he carries the sickle cell trait, which can cause complications when a player is under high stress in hot weather or playing in high-altitude areas. Denver, of course, falls under the latter category and could put Coleman’s status in question.

Coleman isn’t the only player in the NFL with the sickle cell trait, of course. However, that’s not to say it’s something to take lightly. For reference, former NFL safety Ryan Clark has the same trait and became seriously ill after playing in Denver. He ended up needing his gall bladder and spleen removed, forcing him to miss the next two games.

Others, such as Geno Atkins, have played with no issues, so it’s a case-by-case situation. For Coleman, it may not be worth the risk, given the seriousness.

Coleman does play in an area of the country where temperatures tend to get fairly high. Fortunately, the Falcons play in a dome, thus reducing the heat effect on Coleman. If he’s unable to play, it’ll be a significant loss for the Falcons. He’s rushed for 129 yards and four touchdowns this season.

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Devonta Freeman

Atlanta Falcons

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