NFC South injury report, Week 9: Falcons loss compounded by injuries

The Carolina Panthers extended their winning streak to four games and did so without suffering any serious injuries. Otherwise, it was a rough week for teams in the NFC South. Not only did the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all suffer losses, but they are now dealing with potentially serious injuries to key players.

The Falcons got the brunt end. Cornerback Asante Samuel left Sunday's loss to the Panthers in the first half and was evaluated for a possible head injury. He was able to return in the second half, but may still need to be monitored for lingering symptoms. Defensive tackle Corey Peters will undergo an MRI on Monday to evaluate a knee injury. As one of the lone bright spots on a bad defense, his extended absence would be a big blow.

Darren Sproles suffered a concussion Sunday and was unable to return in the Saints' loss to the New York Jets. Sproles will have to go through the NFL's concussion protocol, which could put his status for Week 10 in jeopardy.

The Buccaneers not only suffered an oh-so-close overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but defensive tackle Gerald McCoy went down with an injury during the extra period. The fact that there has been little word about his status after the game could be a good indication that the injury isn't considered serious. He will be worth monitoring this week.