FOOTBALL RUNNERS

“The undefeated Falcons will play without linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, their second-leading tackler, when they face the Dallas Cowboys at 8:20 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

Weatherspoon was injured on a tackle attempt against Eagles running back LeSean McCoy with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter of the Falcons’ 30-17 victory Sunday. He had played all 435 defensive snaps this season before the injury. He missed the final 16 defensive snaps of the Philadelphia game.

“I want to be as transparent as I can be,” coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve ruled out two players for the game this week. Sean Weatherspoon will not play this week. Nor will (reserve wide receiver) Kevin Cone. Those are the two guys that we made a determination on. They are not going to be available for this week’s game.”

With Sean Weatherspoon out, second-year linebacker Akeem Dent will start in the nickel package, which the Falcons used on a majority of their defensive snaps under defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. When they used their 4-3 base defense, Mike Peterson will play in Weatherspoon’s outside linebacker spot.

Dent is the Falcons’ middle linebacker in the base defense. He played some outside linebacker in the nickel against Oakland on Oct. 14 when Stephen Nicholas was slowed by an ankle injury.

“It’s no different for me,” said Dent, who’s played 41 percent (185 of 451) of the defensive snaps this season. “I always watch Sean when he’s in there. I’m getting mental reps if I’m not in the game or in practice.”

Weatherspoon walked through the locker room carrying a sandwich, but didn’t speak to the media. On Tuesday, he did a local radio interview and sounded hopeful about getting the game plan and being ready for Dallas.”