Updated

The Atlanta Falcons have ruled linebacker Sean Weatherspoon out for Sunday's game against NFC South rival New Orleans as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.

Weatherspoon sprained his right ankle during Atlanta's 30-17 win at Philadelphia on Oct. 28 and sat out Sunday's 19-13 victory over Dallas as a result.

"We felt like Sean would be a real, real stretch these first two weeks and feel like he's making progress," said Falcons head coach Mike Smith. "He'll be looking to get back out here the first part of next week. We'll keep him in the training room the rest of this week."

Atlanta's first-round selection in the 2010 draft, Weatherspoon had started 23 straight games prior to missing last week's contest and leads the Falcons with 52 tackles this season. The 24-year-old also notched three sacks over the team's first seven contests.

Mike Peterson started in Weatherspoon's place against the Cowboys, with middle linebacker Akeem Dent remaining on the field in nickel packages.