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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons tight finish Kyle Pitts and defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham “will probably be out, no less than within the short-term, for positive,” coach Arthur Smith mentioned Monday.
A supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter that surgical procedure is “seemingly” for Pitts’ MCL harm, however Smith mentioned nothing has been confirmed but as they’re nonetheless seeing docs and receiving opinions a couple of potential tear and the severity of it.
“I am not a health care provider however an MCL sprain, that is often what occurs, there’s various levels and the place they’re within the knee,” Smith mentioned. “I am going to let the medical consultants deal with it.”
Pitts injured the knee within the third quarter on Sunday towards Chicago on the finish of a catch-and-run when Eddie Jackson tackled him simply above the knee. Pitts was on the bottom at first after which rapidly jogged off the sphere. He then went into the blue medical tent briefly earlier than strolling slowly towards the locker room.
Smith mentioned selections haven’t but been made whether or not or not they’re going to put Pitts or Graham on injured reserve. Pitts, the No. 4 choose within the 2021 draft, has been taking part in by means of “so much” this season, Smith mentioned, together with a hamstring harm that compelled him to overlook Atlanta’s Week 5 sport towards Tampa Bay.
“He has such a big impact on this crew,” Smith mentioned. “I do know the numbers aren’t as gaudy as they had been as a rookie and he is been taking part in by means of so much and he is a troublesome man and he has had a big impact.”
Coming off of a 1,000-yard rookie season as a decent finish — the second 1,000-yard season for a rookie tight finish in NFL historical past — Pitts ended up taking part in in a unique offense asking him to do various things.
He grew to become extra of an entire participant at his place, notably centered on bettering his blocking within the offseason, and Smith has mentioned a number of instances he is been pleased with what Pitts has carried out in 2022. Pitts has 28 catches for 356 yards and two touchdowns this season, down from the 68 catches, 1,026 yards and one landing he had as a rookie.
Smith pointed to the performs he made exterior final yr in comparison with instances this season the place he could not fairly open up on the similar pace as a part of what he was referencing when he was speaking about what Pitts was taking part in by means of in 2022.
However he made clear how huge part of Atlanta’s offense Pitts is.
“Folks simply have a look at the stats and his influence on successful has been monumental for us,” Smith mentioned. “There are actually instances we have not been in sync and the way in which we play at instances the place you do need to sacrifice some passing numbers.
“The man is a superb teammate. He would not pout like loads of guys with that quantity of hype as a result of he is an actual particular person and that is why we love him. He is an actual teammate and the long run is admittedly vivid for him and that is why we’re so excited to have him on this group.”
The Falcons may look to a mixture of tight ends Parker Hesse, MyCole Pruitt, Anthony Firkser and Feleipe Franks, who has been coping with a calf harm, to switch what Pitts had carried out for Atlanta whereas he is out.
Graham, who has began 9 of 11 video games this season for the Falcons alongside Grady Jarrett, has 34 tackles, eight quarterback hits and a fumble restoration thus far this season.
“Simply essentially, the way in which he is taking up blocks, the little issues, the method issues that matter within the run sport,” Smith mentioned earlier this season about Graham’s influence. “Not get turned, not guessing, that is what it comes all the way down to — leverage, fundamentals, with the ability to play good mixture blocks. He is doing that basically properly.”
Graham was carted off the sphere within the second quarter Sunday.
The Falcons will seemingly look to a mixture of Jalen Dalton, Timmy Horne, Abdullah Anderson and Matt Dickerson to switch Graham nonetheless lengthy he is out. Atlanta faces Washingtonon Sunday.
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