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The Falcons have lost rookie WR Kerry Meier for the year as he was placed on the Injured Reserve List due to a knee injury. This will hurt the Falcons who don’t have a lot of depth at WR. Meier played in both pre-season games for the Falcons this year and he had 3 receptions for 34 yards (11.3 avg). He was a fifth round pick of the Falcons but he will have to wait until 2011 to show what he can or can not do.
The Falcons will be without starting WR Michael Jenkins for the next 4-6 weeks due to a injured left shoulder. This is a huge blow to the Falcons if Jenkins isn’t ready to start the season. The Falcons have loved what Harry Douglas has been doing in training camp but I’m not so sure he would be ready to step into Jenkins’ starting spot by opening day. Brian Finneran, Eric Weems and Kerry Meier aren’t starting material either so the Falcons need Jenkins to make a speedy recovery.
The Falcons have placed CB Chris Houston and RG Harvey Dahl on the Injured Reserve List ending their seasons. Houston has a hamstring injury and Dahl has ankle and achilles injuries. Houston played in 12 games for the Falcons this season and he has 47 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, defensed 9 passes and he has 1 INT. Dahl played in 11 games (all starts) for the Falcons this season. He has played in 28 games (27 starts) in his three years with the Falcons. If this were earlier in the season the Falcons would really miss these guys.
27-year old punter Michael Koenen is likely done for the year after suffering a concussion last weekend. He has played in 15 games for the Falcons this season and he has punted the ball 58 times for 2,493 yards (43.0 avg). Koenen only has 3 touchbacks (5.2%) and he has pinned the opposition inside their own 20-yard line 18 times (31%) this year. The Falcons won’t likely have to punt much this weekend against the Bucs.
The Falcons have lost 33-year old WR Brian Finneran for the year due to a torn left PCL. Finneran played in 10 games for the Falcons this season and he caught 11 passes for 111 yards (10.1 avg). It’s a shame to see Finneran get hurt again as it seems like he has been rehabbing more than playing the last few years for the Falcons and it has also hurt the team as he is a good player when healthy.