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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta has lost linebacker Sean Weatherspoon for at least eight weeks and running back Steven Jackson will miss the Falcons next game -- and maybe more. The win against St. Louis Sunday is proving to be costly. Weatherspoon became the third starter placed on injured reserve Tuesday after the victory over the Rams, though he will be eligible to rejoin the roster in Week 11. The Falcons (1-1) used the one-time-only designation that allows an injured player to return, but Weatherspoon wont be able to practice for six weeks and cant play in a game for eight weeks. Coach Mike Smith announced Jackson will miss Sundays game at Miami with a thigh injury. Smith said Jacksons injury is not expected to keep him out for a significant amount of time. "He will not play this week. I know that," Smith said. "It is short term. When I say short term, I dont know if its two weeks or three weeks, but Steven is ruled out for the game this week and will not play." Smith provided no further details on Jacksons injury. The announcement came one day after the Falcons placed defensive end Kroy Biermann (torn right Achilles tendon) and fullback Bradie Ewing (separated left shoulder) on the reserve list with season-ending injuries. Smith said he hasnt experienced a similar wave of injuries in his six years as Atlantas coach. "Weve not had anything close to this," Smith said. "There have been games where weve had guys who have not been able to play and its been the next-man up mentality and I think thats really what our guys understand. I tell them all the time we have very defined roles on our team and in our organization, but I tell them on our team those roles can change just like that and youve got to be prepared." Asked if the injuries have left his head spinning, Smith said "No. Not at all. "Thats what happens week to week. ... I think it happens at different times of the season. Right now its happening at the beginning of the season." Jackson left the 31-24 win over the Rams after scoring in the first quarter on an 8-yard pass from Matt Ryan. Smith says Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling will share the work at running back against the Dolphins. The status of cornerback Asante Samuel also is in doubt. Samuel left the game against the Rams with a thigh injury. Weatherspoon, a first-round pick in 2010, quickly established himself as the leader of Atlantas defence. He had 13 tackles this season and 306 in his career. Biermann has 16 1/2 sacks in his career, including four last season, and took on the expanded role of outside linebacker when the Falcons went to a 3-4 alignment. Replacing Weatherspoon is particularly troublesome, however, because linebacker is the teams thinnest position. There were only four other linebackers on the roster, including two undrafted rookies, before the Falcons signed Jamar Chaney and Omar Gaither on Tuesday. Smith said the two undrafted rookies, Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow, will play significant roles. Bartu started ahead of Stephen Nicholas against the Rams. "Were looking forward to seeing what these young guys can do," Smith said. "Bartu had a good ballgame last week and Worrilow and Nicholas are guys that get back into the mix. Theyve got to go out there and perform and were very confident that they will. "The two young guys showed what they can do in the preseason and then Bartu did it in the game the other day." Chaney, a seventh-round pick by Philadelphia in 2010, played 44 games with the Eagles over the last three seasons, including 23 starts. Gaither also is a former Eagles draft pick, spending five years in Philadelphia before moving to Carolina in 2011 and Oakland last season. He played in seven games with four starts for the Raiders. The Falcons have greater numbers at defensive end, but getting pressure on the quarterback has been a long-standing trouble spot and theres no one else in a backup role with even Biermanns modest credentials. Jonathan Massaquoi filled in after Biermanns injury against the Rams. The Falcons also have rookie draft picks Malliciah Goodman and Stansly Maponga at defensive end. Custom Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Ryan Callahan Jersey .com) - Damian Lillard poured in 40 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go along with 11 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-111, in overtime on Tuesday. http://www.lightninghockeystore.us/Mikhail-Sergachev-Jersey/. Of all the names out there who could realistically be dealt by Wednesdays deadline, Ryan Kesler remains No. 1 on the most desired list. And while were not sure if theyre any closer to a deal, we now have a defined price. Andrei Vasilevskiy Jersey . Now Arizonas new manager is hoping Yasmany Tomas can have the same effect on the Diamondbacks. Brayden Point Jersey . Jeter doubled high off the left-field wall and scored on Jacoby Ellsburys first hit in pinstripes in the fifth. Hiroki Kuroda (1-1) pitched 6 1-3 sharp innings in the Yankees 112th opener in New York. In what manager Joe Girardi said would be a season-long lovefest for Jeter, the shortstop was cheered every step of the way by an adoring crowd of 48, 142 -- even when his double-play grounder back to Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) scored Solarte in the third inning for the first run.PHILADELPHIA -- O.J. Mayo made seven three-pointers and scored 25 points, Ersan Ilyasova added 20, and the Milwaukee Bucks placed seven players in double figures in a 130-110 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost their 11th straight game on Monday night. Ramon Sessions had 16 points, Khris Middleton and Brandon Knight scored 15 each, and Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 13 for the Bucks (11-45), who own the NBAs worst record. John Henson chipped in 12 points for the Bucks, who had their highest scoring game of the season. Philadelphia (15-42), which owns the leagues second worst record, has lost 21 of 24 and 10 straight at home. It is the clubs longest skid since a 12-game losing streak during the 1996-97 season. Thaddeus Young led the 76ers with 28 points, Michael Carter-Williams added 20, Tony Wroten had 19, and James Anderson scored 13. The Bucks had lost two in a row, 21 of 24, and 10 straight on the road. Their last away victory was against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 31, 2013. Milwaukee still hasnt won back-to-back games this season. Only 12,216 were in attendance for thiss one.dddddddddddd Philadelphia trailed 73-44 at halftime, the most points the 76ers had allowed in any half this season. It got worse as the Bucks lead swelled to 33 points in the third quarter. Mayo made his first five three-point attempts. His sixth turned into a four-point play with 3.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter, giving the Bucks a 106-76 advantage. The Sixers had 11 available players, including guard Eric Maynor and centres Henry Sims and Byron Mullens. But the biggest name from their four deals before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday was inactive. Forward Danny Granger, a former All-Star who was acquired from the Indiana Pacers for forward Evan Turner and forward-centre Lavoy Allen, was in town but not at the arena. Sixers coach Brett Brown said before the game that a decision on Grangers status could be made within the next day. NOTES: Bucks F Caron Butler sat out with a sprained left ankle. . The Sixers managed only 13 rebounds in the first half. . The Bucks 73 points in the first half were a season-high in any half. . Bucks F Jeff Adrien had 10 rebounds. ' ' '