CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Before Matt Ryan took questions about Sunday's 19-17 win over the Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback took a moment to acknowledged an accomplishment by one of his favorite targets.
"Before we get started, I just want to say how proud I am of Roddy [White] for passing the milestone that he has," Ryan said of White reaching 10,000 career receiving yards. "Certainly he's shown great longevity throughout his career and has made a huge impact on my own career, so I couldn't be happier of him. Now he's got to go get to 11,000."
Coming into the game, White needed 73 yards to reach 10,000. He got 75 on eight receptions while be targeted a team-high 12 times.
White surpassed 10,000 with an 11-yard catch with 4 minutes, 53 seconds left in regulation. It was part of a 12-play, 54-yard drive that set up Matt Bryant's game-deciding, 44-yard field goal.
White is the 42nd player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards, joining the likes of other actives players such as Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Steve Smith, to name a few.
"It's a great achievement," White said. "Some of the guys, you know, came over and gave me a nice hug. So, it was good. But the win was more gratifying. I'd rather win the division and go to the playoffs, do things like that, then these individual achievements. But it's a good achievement. It speaks volumes of just going out there and playing consistent football for the last 10 years."
