Coleman and Lewis go on IR

The Falcons were dealt a severe blow at defensive tackle on Tuesday when they placed both starters Rod Coleman and Trey Lewis on injured reserve. To improve depth, the Falcons signed defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona, promoted defensive end Kevin Huntley from the practice squad, and re-signed end Derrick Jones to the practice squad.

Both Coleman and Lewis suffered their injuries this past weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coleman injured his triceps and hand on his right arm, while Lewis suffered a severe right knee injury. Depth was already a concern at the position after the release of starter Grady Jackson three weeks ago. After Jackson's release, Lewis was promoted permanently as the starter at nose tackle. Coleman only returned from injury just five weeks ago.

Jonathan Babineaux and Montavious Stanley are expected to replace Coleman and Lewis, respectively. Babineaux started the first few games of the season in place of Coleman at the undertackle position. Stanley has gotten extensive playing time as the reserve nose tackle much of the season and now will be counted on to start. The team added free agent Tim Anderson a few weeks ago. He's been inactive thus far, but will likely be counted on to have a much bigger role in the ensuing games.

Mahelona was a fifth round pick of the Tennessee Titans a year ago. Last season as a reserve with the Titans, he recorded 11 tackles and 1 sacks in 10 games. He was released by the Titans after being inactive for Week 1 this season, and joined the Miami Dolphins in October. He was inactive for a single game before the Dolphins released him.

Huntley has been off and on the Falcons practice squad several teams thus far this year. He was originally signed on September 12 and then released on October 9. He was re-signed on October 29. Jones originally joined the team's practice squad on October 17, but was released two weeks ago.

Charges dropped against Babineaux

Felony animal cruelty charges against Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux were dismissed on Wednesday according to an AJC report. The charges stemmed from the death of Babineaux's girlfriend's dog "Kilo" in February.

According to the AJC report, the charges were dropped after an extensive investigation could not come to a consensus among experts about the cause of death and how the injury occurred. An autopsy revealed that Kilo died of blunt-force trauma to the head, but whether that was inflicted by Babineaux could not be determined.

The dog had a history of unprovoked attacks and a dog trainer had informed Babineaux to spin the dog by its leash when it became aggressive. According to Babineaux's lawyer, the dog was acting aggressively towards Babineaux and his infant son, and Babineaux engaged in the spinning technique which resulted in the dog's death from it striking a wall.

Babineaux faced potential suspension from the NFL had he been indicted by a Gwinnett County grand jury.

Coleman could get first action of the season on Monday night

Updating this week's injury report, the Falcons are listing only two players as out for Monday night's contest against the New York Giants. Those player are offensive tackle Todd Weiner and linebacker Stephen Nicholas. Weiner is expected to miss two to six weeks with a knee injury and Nicholas suffered a high ankle sprain last weekend and will miss two weeks.

Defensive tackles Jonathan Babineaux (knee) and Rod Coleman (knee), along with linebacker Keith Brooking (hamstring) and quarterback Byron Leftwich (ankle) are all listed as questionable for the game as well. Babineaux was the only one among the four the participated in Friday's practice. Coleman had limited participation on Wednesday and Thursday, and Petrino expressed optimism earlier in the week that he'd be ready to play on Monday. This game would mark the first for Coleman this season, as he's been unable to practice for the most part since April. The extra day of rest should benefit the Falcons, as reports indicate that Leftwich's injury is relatively minor, and he was held out on Friday so that he could extra rest.

Leftwich was promoted ahead of Chris Redman as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart this week. If Coleman and/or Babineaux are unable to go, Trey Lewis will make his third consecutive start of the season.

As for the players listed as probable on the injury report, they included tight end Dwayne Blakley (chest), safety Chris Crocker (knee), tight end Alge Crumpler (knee/ankle), defensive tackle Grady Jackson (back), and cornerback Lewis Sanders (shoulder). All are expected to play and/or start.

Lewis to start on Sunday

Contrasting earlier reports that he was suffering from only a mild knee injury, the Falcons updated defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux's status to indicate that he will not play this weekend against the Houston Texans. Babineaux had been serving as an injury replacement for Rod Coleman in the starting lineup, but will now be replaced by rookie Trey Lewis. Head coach Bobby Petrino was hopeful that Babineaux might be able to return next week, but the AJC is reporting that he might miss three weeks. This injury leaves the Falcons with only three active defensive tackles for Sunday. Sharing time with Lewis will be Montavious Stanley, who will perform swing duties at both tackle spots, backing up Lewis and nose tackle Grady Jackson as well. Petrino indicated earlier in the week that it is possible that Coleman will return to the lineup next week. Lewis will be the fourth Falcon rookie to start this season, following Jamaal Anderson, Justin Blalock, and Laurent Robinson. Although there is a good possibility that another rookie starter will be joining him in the lineup, either cornerback Chris Houston or David Irons due to the possible benching of DeAngelo Hall.

In other injury news, both Chris Crocker and Todd Weiner are expected to start and play this weekend. But tight end Dwayne Blakley is listed out once more.

Coleman still out with sore knee

Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman was held out of practice today, and is currently listed as out on the Falcons injury report as of Wednesday. He is not expected to play this weekend against the Houston Texans.

Coleman underwent knee surgery just prior to the start of the regular season, and the initial prognosis was that he would miss four games. Coach Petrino indicated during his Wednesday press conference that it is doubtful that Coleman will play this week, and that the team hopes to get him ready for next week. His still has soreness in knee after working it over the weekend.

In other injury news, tight end Dwayne Blakley (pectoral), defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (knee), safety Chris Crocker (knee), and offensive tackle Todd Weiner (knee) also missed practice today due to various injuries. Blakley did not play last week. Babineaux has filled in for Coleman in the starting lineup. Crocker missed the first two games due to the same knee injury, but managed to start against the Panthers this past week. Petrino indicated he expects both Crocker and Weiner to participate in Thursday practices, indicating they should play this weekend. But Blakley is likely to be out for at least another week. No update as of yet on Babineaux. The AJC reports that his knee injury is only mild.

Outrage over Babineaux case

Judy Battista of the New York Times writes that there has been an outpouring of outrage over the circumstances surrounding Jonathan Babineaux's involvement with the death of his girlfriend's dog. From e-mails and phone calls to the Humane Society, as well as promptings by PETA for Babineaux to face year-long suspension and/or release.

Babineaux has maintained his innocence in the matter, after being charged with felony animal abuse last week. Reports indicate that an autopsy on the dog named Kilo, will shed further light on Babineaux's involvement in the near future.

Battista writes that an unofficial league source indicates Babineaux is not in danger of being released by the Falcons. But Babineaux is likely to come under scrutiny of the league's personal conduct policy which may result in a fine or suspension.

Falcons' Babineaux denies abusing girlfriend's dog

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux denied responsibility on Tuesday for the death of his girlfriend's dog, which led to felony animal abuse charges against the former Iowa Hawkeye.

Gwinnett County police said officers were dispatched Sunday evening to the Animal Emergency Center, where the staff told them that 24-year-old Blair Anderson had arrived with a pit bull mix that was dead upon arrival.

Police said Anderson told them she and Babineaux, 25, had argued at their home. She said she went to the movies, and upon returning found Kilo, her year-and-a-half old dog, in "severe physical distress."

Babineaux, a second-round draft pick from Iowa in 2005, met with officers at the hospital, where he said he was not responsible for the dog's death. Police said his account of what happened was inconsistent with the information about the dog's injuries provided by the animal hospital. He was arrested.

Police said they are still awaiting test results, but added that preliminary information indicates Kilo died from a massive blow to the head.

Lt. Derrick Locklear, shift commander for the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, said Babineaux was released just before 8 a.m. Monday on a $2,300 bond.

Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said that until the team has the information it needs, there would be no comment.

Babineaux played in all 16 games and recorded 28 tackles last season.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS