FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons have sent Ray-Ray McCloud III home, according to coach Raheem Morris. The decision is described as a private matter between the wide receiver and the team. McCloud has been the Falcons’ number 3 wide receiver since last season. I sent him home. Excused absence – home. Working on some things right now that are private with my young one, and we’ll work those things out as we go. A McCloud representative declined to comment on the matter. McCloud was an unexpected absence for Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills and will not play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Although he was in practice on Wednesday, he did not participate on Thursday or Friday for reasons unrelated to injury, according to the team. The Falcons fired wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard after a 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. McCloud and Hilliard are close, and Hilliard’s presence in Atlanta was a major reason McCloud signed with the Falcons in the 2024 offseason. After the firing, McCloud said Hilliard was the best coach he’d had and reminded him that “this league has no loyalty”. However, Morris stated that Hilliard’s dismissal is not related to McCloud’s current situation.
Morris added that he would not consider sending McCloud home as a disciplinary measure.This is between Ray-Ray, the organization, and us, and dealing with those things. It has nothing to do with that.
Raheem Morris
It’s more of a football matter and what we have to solve.
Raheem Morris
