The potential emergence of Jacquizz Rodgers as the go-to back in Atlanta will be delayed.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Falcons running back Michael Turner will play on Sunday in Carolina, despite an elbow injury that had him listed as questionable.
Turner, who has started every game this year, has seen his workload drop. He has carried the ball an average of 15 times per game in 2012, down three carries per game from last season. Turner’s per-carry average is way down, from 4.5 yards in 2011 to 3.8 yards now.
Rodgers has 68 carries for 274 yards in 2012, an average of four per attempt. Come 2013, with Turner due a base salary of $5.5 million in the final year of his contract, Rodgers could emerge as the lead dog in the Atlanta backfield.