Falcons lose QB Matt Ryan to injured ankle

Matt Ryan became the latest star quarterback to go down in a rugged season for passers, injuring his right ankle when he was sacked by the Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald in the Atlanta Falcons' blowout loss Sunday.

The 2016 MVP had been his usual self for the struggling Falcons, throwing for at least 300 yards in each of Atlanta's first six games. That streak came to an end Sunday against the Rams' pass rush, which sacked him five times as Atlanta fell to 1-6.

Ryan's right leg bent awkwardly as he was sacked by Donald and fumbled early in the fourth quarter. He limped off the field and was escorted to the medical tent on the sideline before he walked to the locker room, still favoring the ankle.

Ryan wore a walking boot in the locker room.

• Atlanta running back Ito Smith was carted off because of head and neck injuries.

• Houston receiver Will Fuller left early because of a hamstring injury.

• Washington safety Montae Nicholson was carted off after injuring his right ankle.

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, who served as Washington's offensive coordinator under his father, Mike, from 2010 to '13, celebrated the 49ers' 9-0 victory over the Redskins by giving his dad the game ball. Kyle has made little secret of his hard feelings over how things went working for owner Dan Snyder and President Bruce Allen.

He lost his only previous visit to FedEx Field as a head coach in 2017.

"Everyone's a little more sensitive to things that involve your family," Shanahan said. "That's why I'm always a little more sensitive to this, because of what I went through with my dad here."

• Baltimore safety Earl Thomas had a mostly uneventful return to Seattle, finishing with five tackles against the team he played with for nine seasons. He exchanged jerseys with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson after the Ravens' 30-16 victory and was given the game ball.