After being sidelined in the third quarter of the New York Atlas’ victory over the Utah Archers on Aug. 10, attackman Connor Shellenberger is still out with a left foot injury and won’t play in the Atlas’ season finale against the Philadelphia Waterdogs on Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Shellenberger is a major contributor on the most efficient offense in the league. Averaging 3.3 points per game, the righty attackman operates as QB2 alongside Jeff Teat, with Xander Dickson as the insidious off-ball mover to round out the trio. 

Shellenberger posted 26 points (15G, 11A) in eight games so far this season. He is one of 10 players with double-digit assists and has one of the lowest turnover rates (2.94%) among all attackmen, which is especially impressive given his high touch rate (272 touches).

Through nine games, the Atlas, meanwhile, scored a league-leading 133 goals on 398 shots to boast a 33.4% shooting percentage and 33.3% offensive efficiency. Both also lead the league.

Week 1️⃣1️⃣ Injury Report

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When Shellenberger exited the Atlas’ game Saturday, the coaching staff slotted midfielder Dox Aitken down low in his place. Aitken acted as the team’s emergency attackman given the lack thereof dressed on the 19-man roster, but Aitken said Wednesday he does not expect to play down low in New York’s final regular-season game.

Instead, the Atlas could move Logan McGovern from midfield to attack or dress Payton Cormier.

Shellenberger’s absence isn’t cause for panic for New York, which already secured a spot in the postseason. He has until, at earliest, Sept. 2 to get healthy. With a win against the Waterdogs on Saturday, however, the Atlas would lock up the No. 1 overall seed and earn the first-round playoff bye, bypassing them into the semifinals on Sept. 7.