The Atlanta Falcons placed starting strong safety William Moore on injured reserve after he re-injured his right shoulder in Sunday's 30-14 win over the Saints.
Moore previously separated the shoulder during a Week 4 loss at Minnesota. He was placed on IR with a designation to return and missed seven games.
Moore entered last Sunday's game already nursing a torn plantar fascia in his right foot. He then suffered the season-ending shoulder injury.
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan talked about finishing the season without Moore in the lineup. The Falcons (6-9) and Panthers (6-8-1) meet Sunday with the NFC South title and a trip to the playoffs on the line.
"Well, it's disappointing, naturally, because William's a big part of what we do and it's exciting when he's in there because he creates a lot of energy," Nolan said.
With Moore out, Kemal Ishmael will reassume a starting role alongside free safety Dwight Lowery.
"Kemal filling in has done a nice job all year," Nolan said. "[He] had to do it for several weeks before when William was out. And I think that he's gotten better at the things that he was struggling with early. He's continued to work on them. His strength so far has been primarily in the run game. He's a very good tackler, very physical player. And we'll need that play out of him this week because, obviously, our opponent [Carolina] runs the ball very well."
Ishmael also leads the Falcons with four interceptions.
Moore finished the season with 25 tackles and two forced fumbles in seven games. The Falcons elevated safety Sean Baker from the practice squad to take Moore's roster spot.
Moore was eight Falcons to be placed on season-ending IR, joining linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and Marquis Spruill, running back Antone Smith, and offensive linemen Joe Hawley, Peter Konz, Lamar Holmes, Sam Baker, and Mike Johnson.