Getty Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts exited Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears early with a knee injury.
Per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons’ official site, Pitts was deemed “questionable” to return.
Kyle Pitts has a knee injury and is questionable to return.
The Falcons’ Pro Bowl tight end took a hard hit to his right knee from Bears’ safety Eddie Jackson following an 18-yard catch. He struggled to get up, but then managed to jog off the field––it was clear that he was in pain.
#Falcons TE Kyle Pitts appeared to suffer a serious knee injury on this play
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According to Sports Injury Central––a site run by experience sports doctors––Pitts “Pitts appeared to suffer an MCL sprain with the possibility of a bone bruise on a direct hit to his right knee.”
If that is the case, the Falcons could be without Pitts for at least four weeks.
Before heading into the locker room, Pitts led the team with five targets, three receptions and 43 receiving yards. He has 28 catches for 356 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season so far.
Atlanta’s backup tight end Parker Hesse took over for Pitts.
Pitts’s Lack of Production Has Not Gone Unnoticed
The Falcons have been relying heavily on their run game this season, which has ultimately left Pitt’s production on a decline compared to last year.
This is largely due to the fact that the Falcons don’t have pocket passer, Matt Ryan, as their quarterback anymore, and instead are working with Marcus Mariota, who is not an accurate passer and works way better as a running QB.
However, Mariota told reporters two weeks ago that he believed he could change his ways and give Pitts plenty more opportunities.
“First and foremost, I can do a better job of giving Kyle more opportunities with the ball,” Mariota said on Nov. 8. “I think sometimes I’ve been a little too safe, a little too conservative where I’m putting the football, so giving him a chance to go get it. I think that’ll help some of his target numbers.”
We saw Mariota attempt to give Pitts more targets against the Panthers in Primetime, but end up overthrowing him––more than once.
While Pitts hasn’t been used as much as he should in this Falcons’ offense, his absence would be a huge blow to a team that is still in the playoff race.
Pitts Was Not the Only Player Who Suffered a Knee Injury
Pitts was not the only Falcons player who went down against Chicago.
The Falcons also lost defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham to a knee injury early in the game.
Graham was carted off with under 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The former 2021 fifth-round pick was deemed questionable at first and then did not return.
Graham, a 6-3, 290-pound, second-year defensive lineman, has been a bright light on this Falcons’ defense. After starting in five games during his rookie year, he has started eight games in 2022, recording 49 tackles (20 solo), and has established himself as a solid defender for Atlanta.
With Graham possibly out for some time, the Falcons will turn to Timothy Horne, a 2022 undrafted free agent out of Kansas State.