The Associated Press

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons have reached agreement to hire San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora as the team's head coach, a source said Thursday night.

The Falcons will make an announcement this morning, said a source close to the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Mora, the son of former New Orleans and Indianapolis coach Jim Mora, was a finalist for the San Francisco job last year before the 49ers hired Dennis Erickson.

Mora met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank in his Buckhead office Wednesday for the first time. He interviewed the previous week in Atlanta with Falcons general manager Rich McKay but had not yet met Blank.

The hiring was first announced by SI.com.

TITANS: Tennessee running back Eddie George will face the Patriots this weekend despite missing a third straight day of practice Thursday because of a left ankle injury.

George also has soreness in his left shoulder, which he dislocated in a win over Baltimore in the first round of the playoffs.

"He's still got some swelling, but it's improving daily," coach Jeff Fisher said. "He'll play."

Everyone else practiced for the Titans on Thursday, including quarterback Steve McNair, who has been hobbled by a sprained left ankle with a cracked bone spur and a strained right calf.

"It was his first time in a long time where he's had two good days of practice, which is important to us," Fisher said.