The Atlanta Falcons just pulled off a 24-14 upset over the AFC-leading Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, moving to 3-2 and making a loud statement to the rest of the league. But as good as the night was, there’s still one big question on every Falcons fan’s mind: where was wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud?

The veteran receiver was a surprise inactive heading into the game, especially with Darnell Mooney already sidelined due to a hamstring injury. According to Falcons insider Joe Patrick, head coach Raheem Morris said McCloud’s status was simply “a coach’s decision” and that he’ll compete for a spot on the gameday roster next week.

So, it wasn’t injury-related after all. And that’s not a great sign for McCloud’s future in Atlanta. It’s surprising because this is someone who was the team’s third-leading receiver, catching a career-high 62 passes for 686 yards. He was a consistent piece in the offense and had good chemistry with Kirk Cousins.

But ever since Michael Penix Jr. took over at quarterback, that connection hasn’t been there. Through four games, McCloud’s caught just six passes for 64 yards, and he hasn’t topped 50 yards in any of Penix’s seven starts.

The decline was evident, and it seems the coaching staff finally ran out of patience. His Week 4 performance against Washington may have been the final straw. He dropped a pass on the opening drive, and his only catch went backward for a seven-yard loss. That’s not the kind of impact you want from a veteran receiver trying to earn trust with a young QB.

And with the addition of Jamal Agnew, who’s now handling return duties, McCloud doesn’t bring that special-teams value anymore either. When a player stops producing on offense and isn’t helping on special teams, the leash gets short. And you could see this coming from a mile away.

Raheem Morris has lost faith in Ray-Ray McCloud

You could see this move coming if you were paying attention. Morris and his staff had been tinkering with the depth chart all week, and when they called up Deven Thompkins from the practice squad before the game, it was a big hint that something was up.

KhaDarel Hodge returned from injury, and with Agnew also in the lineup, there wasn’t much space left for McCloud. Making him a healthy inactive sent a clear message from Raheem Morris, McCloud isn’t in the current plan. Whether that changes or not, we’ll have to wait and see.

That’s a tough pill to swallow for a 28-year-old receiver who’s been a steady contributor throughout his career. Morris’ decision to roll with unproven guys like Thompkins, Agnew, and Casey Washington behind Drake London says a lot about where his confidence lies.

Still, there’s a bit of hope left for him. Outside of London, no Falcons receiver really stood out against the Bills. Atlanta’s offense was efficient but far from explosive through the air. That might open the door for McCloud to get another shot next week against the 49ers. The upcoming roster list will be interesting.