FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan sprained his left shoulder in the closing minutes of the NFC championship game and won't be able to play in Sunday's Pro Bowl.
Coach Mike Smith says Ryan will need three to four weeks to recover from the injury, which was described as a sprained AC joint to the non-throwing shoulder. No surgery is required.
Ryan was hurt just after the two-minute warning. On a 5-yard pass that Jason Snelling took down to the San Francisco 10, linebacker Ahmad Brooks got a shot on the Atlanta quarterback. Ryan's next two passes were incomplete, sealing the 49ers' 28-24 victory.
Smith says Ryan would've played if the Falcons had beaten the 49ers and advanced to the Super Bowl in two weeks.
