Matt Ryan out for the Atlanta Falcons with toe injury against the Philadelphia Eagles

Matt Ryan on the sideline following toe injury (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Matt Ryan, who left Sunday's 20-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers  in the first quarter with an injury to his toe, has been ruled out for Sunday's game at the Georgia Dome against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith made the announcement at his Monday afternoon press conference. 

"Matt has been ruled out of the ballgame on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles," said Smith.

Ryan sustained a toe injury, typically called "turf toe," following a sack by Tim Crowder and Stylez G. White.

Turf toe is a condition involving the ball of the foot, often created by jamming the toe or repeatedly pushing off of the toe. Commonly associated with athletes playing on harder artificial turf, the injury consists of a torn capsule around the toe's joint.

Considered very painful, the toe injury causes instability and a recommended recovery time of rest ranges from one-to-three weeks, according to Dr. Jonathan Cluett of About.com, a certified orthopedic surgeon from Massachusetts.

The head coach said Ryan will work with the training staff this week and remain off the practice field.

Smith would not comment on a report from Fox Sports.com's Jay Glazer from earlier in the day that said the second-year quarterback was flying to Charlotte, North Carolina to see a foot specialist.

"I believe Matt is here in Atlanta," Smith said. "Right now, I just got off the phone with Matt. I know he is right now here in Atlanta."

32-year-old backup quarterback Chris Redman took over for Ryan on Sunday, finishing with 243 yards passing and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in the game's final moments. Smith was pleased with Redman's poise and efficiency in the ball game, playing his first meaningful snaps in 27 games, and will take all the snaps in this week's practice with the first-team.

"Chris Redman, who came in yesterday, will be our starter this week," Smith said. "Starting on Wednesday he'll take the majority of the snaps in practice. I can assure you; myself and everybody in the locker room have got all the confidence in the world in Chris Redman."

Rookie third-string quarterback John Parker Wilson will be elevated as the team's backup. Atlanta does not plan to make a roster move to bring in another quarterback. Smith cited a handful of teams in the NFL where this situation is the norm.

Redman, in his third season with the Falcons, has a history with Smith, dating back to their time with the Baltimore Ravens where Smith was a linebackers coach.

"Chris was a backup when we were there so he got to work a lot with the look team because he was our third QB his rookie year," Smith said on Monday. "So I know Chris very, very well. Chris has a lot of confidence in his ability and when he's had an opportunity to play in this league he has played effectively. I don't anticipate there's going to be a significant drop off in the effectiveness of our offense."

Ryan's was one of a handful of costly injuries the Falcons sustained in Sunday's win. Starting left tackle Sam Baker and starting right guard Harvey Dahl both left the game and did not return. Running back Michael Turner, making the start after missing last week with an ankle sprain, re-injured his ankle in the third quarter and did not return. Smith cited Turner's status as still up in the air and would not comment further, opting to wait until Wednesday when the team must make their injury report public.

Given the shaky health of the team, many players who began the season in backup roles will be counted on to fulfill larger roles, just as Redman did on Sunday for the Falcons.

"It's going to be important for us, as a team, for the players that have the opportunity to play--they're going to be counted on to do the job," Smith said. "That's really the bottom line."

Smith acknowledged the importance of remaining nimble for the team's coaching staff, given the injury situation, especially at quarterback. They will focus on creating a game plan that accentuates the strengths of the players involved.

"This is a game of improvising and adjusting," Smith said. 

He would not speculate on the long-term health or return of his team's 2008 first-round draft pick, saying it would remain a week-to-week process. 

"We will reevaluate on next week," Smith said. "He's going to work with our medical people in the training room and the rehabilitation staff to get back as quick as he can."

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