<
>

Cordarrelle Patterson racks up two touchdowns in first game back from IR

ATLANTA -- Cordarrelle Patterson came off injured reserve for the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, reclaimed his role as the team's starting running back Sunday and then picked up right where he left off a month ago.

Patterson rushed for the Falcons' first two touchdowns -- and had another 38-yard touchdown run called back due to a tripping penalty as well.

His first touchdown came on the first drive of the game, where he finished off an 8-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard run into the end zone with 10:40 left in the first quarter. He again scored in the third quarter to give the Falcons a 17-14 lead over the Los Angeles Chargers, capping off a 10-play, 53-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Through his second touchdown run, Patterson had 12 carries for 46 yards and two scores and one catch for nine yards. It's been part of another high-level rushing day for the Falcons, who gained over 150 yards on the ground for the seventh time in nine games this season.

It is Patterson's second career game with multiple rushing touchdowns -- the other coming Nov. 28, 2021 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he had 16 carries for 108 yards and two rushing touchdowns.