Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner limped off the field of Sunday's NFC title game against San Francisco in the third quarter with a sprained ankle.
He never returned.
Turner had eight rushes for 30 yards when he was hurt. It appeared he aggravated the ankle on a 3-yard run with Atlanta leading 24-21.
Jacquizz Rodgers replaced Turner as the primary running back, but Jason Snelling was taking handoffs, too.
Before quarterback Matt Ryan threw an interception to Chris
Culliver midway through the third, the Falcons were giving the
49ers' pass defense fits as Ryan had completed 20 of 27 passes for
299 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
The Falcons jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but for the second
week in a row could not hold it. This time, they didn't have time
for a last-second comeback of their own, and lost 28-24.
