FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman has spoken with Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn about his sideline conflict with defensive line coach Bryan Cox last Sunday and admits his emotions got the best of him.

Shortly after the Carolina Panthers took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter in Charlotte, the second-year pro appeared upset as he approached the sideline. After what looked like tense dialogue with teammates who tried to calm him, Cox tried as well. Hageman did not respond well, pushing the coach away.

"There was a little scuffle, and tempers were flaring," Hageman said. "I felt like some of the players on the sideline weren't really a part of the scuffle, therefore they assumed what was going on, miscommunication.

"Mix that in with emotions or whatever, and people get misled. It was a miscommunication. We talked about it, and we move on."

The Falcons (6-7) have cause to be emotional; they've lost six straight games heading into Sunday's at Jacksonville (5-8), where both teams will try to keep alive playoff hopes.

Hageman was not available for comment Monday and players were off Tuesday.

Quinn said Monday he spoke with the lineman and with Cox.

"Two emotional guys, disagreement ... for sure that is one I handled in-house with both of them," Quinn said. "They're both top-notch guys. Cox, looking out for [Hageman]. It was an emotional time, but at no time is that going to be part of our football way."

The Falcons drafted Hageman in the second round in 2014, out of Minnesota. He has played in all 13 games this season, starting eight, and has 22 tackles and assists with a sack.

The Falcons need everybody on the same page, and Hageman said he's all in: "It's my job. I'm focusing on the next game, on Jacksonville. We'll keep moving forward."

Quinn suggested that Cox was trying to look after his player, as if Hageman were family. Asked if he had something approximating a father-son relationship with his position coach, Hageman did not go that far.

"No, no. He's got his own children, I got my own children. It's a coach and player relationship," the tackle said. "That's how it's got to be. He's the coach, and I'm the player. Father and son ... I have my own kids."

Hageman declined to discuss his conversation with Quinn.

"That's just between me and him," he said. "I can't really talk about in-house stuff. That's just between me and DQ."