FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Dan Quinn said he'll know more about Tevin Coleman's hamstring strain in the next couple of days, but the Atlanta Falcons coach sounded prepared to make a roster move in case the running back is sidelined for any period of time.
While it still is unclear how long he will be out, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Coleman, who aggravated a hamstring injury against the San Diego Chargers, is unlikely to play Sunday versus Green Bay.
"We just have to find out the severity of it and find out when his strength can get back ...'' Quinn said. "Let's face it: He is a guy who can haul. He'll need to have full strength for him to do what he does.''
Quinn said the team likely would look internally for help at running back, with starter Devonta Freeman the only other back on the active roster. Terron Ward is on the practice squad.
"We're discussing that big this afternoon,'' Quinn said. "Fortunately for us, Ward is here, and he's somebody that's got game experience in the system and somebody that we can totally rely on.''
The Falcons would have to make a move to create space for Ward on the 53-man roster. Last year, Ward played in 13 games and rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.
Coleman played 14 snaps in Sunday's 33-30 overtime loss to the Chargers before exiting with the hamstring strain. He scored on a 30-yard burst and had 74 combined yards on nine touches.
Playing without Coleman surely will increase the workload for Freeman, who stands eighth in the league in rushing with 508 yards on 105 carries.
"Devonta was a Pro Bowler last season; he can carry the load,'' said Pro Bowl fullback Patrick DiMarco. "Whoever we end up signing, if we end up bringing somebody in to help out [Coleman] and his recovery, it's next man up. We do expect T-Cole to get back and play as soon as he can. But in the meantime, we're going to go out and just do what we do.''
The Falcons (4-3) will face the league's top rushing defense when Green Bay (4-2) visits the Georgia Dome on Sunday. The Packers allow just 71.8 rushing yards per game and have surrendered one rushing touchdown.
Coleman's big-play ability in both the running and passing games could be missed. He leads the Falcons with six touchdowns and has 564 combined yards.
The former third-round draft pick from Indiana suffered a hamstring injury last preseason before being named the starter to begin the regular season. Then Coleman suffered a rib injury in Week 2, resulting in two missed games. Freeman took over as the starter from there.
Coleman also missed the final two games of the 2015 season after slipping in the shower and suffering a concussion.