The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More injury woes
Freeman the latest to take up residence on injured reserve.
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, who’s been battling knee and groin injuries, is headed for injured reserved, the team announced Tuesday.
Freeman is set to have groin surgery and will miss at least eight games.
He would be eligible for a return in Week 16. He could return for a potential late-season playoff push if the Falcons can rebound from a 2-4 start.
Freeman played in the opener and suffered what was reported as a knee bruise against the Eagles. He missed the next three games before playing against the Steelers. He rushed eight times for 32 yards, but didn’t look explosive on a 20-yard run after he got in the open field.
Freeman didn’t play in the next game, last week’s win over the Buccaneers, with what was disclosed as a groin injury on Friday. It was listed as a knee injury on the previous injury reports.
“Following the game against Pittsburgh, where Devonta injured his foot, we thought he was just having general soreness in his groin area,” coach Dan Quinn said in a statement. “As the week went on, it continued so we decided to have him get some tests. It has been determined that he will need a procedure that will result in us placing him on injured reserve. We are hopeful he will be able to return this season, but we will have a better feel for that in the com- ing weeks.”
The rushing attack has struggled as Freeman, the team’s leading rusher each of the last three years, has been injured.
The Falcons are averag- ing 86 yards rushing per game, which ranks 29th in the league.
Tevin Coleman and rookie Ito Smith have taken over most of the carries but have been ineffective mostly because of poor run block- ing.
Freeman’s injury prob- lems can be traced to the final game of the regular season against the Panthers in 2017. He played well against the Rams in the wild card playoff round but was slowed in the divisional round against the Eagles.
He did not have offseason surgery on his right knee.
T he Falcons’ defe nse already has lost starting safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen to season-ending inju- ries and linebacker Deion Jones for at least eight weeks. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (ankle) has missed the past two games.
Offensive guard Andy Levitre (elbow) also is on injured reserved.
Kicker signed: The Falcons signed Giorgio Tavecchio to fill in while kicker Matt Bryant recovers from a strained hamstring.
Tavecchio was originally signed Aug. 27 to kick for the final exhibition game as the team sat Bryant and punter Matt Bosher.
Quinn said Bryant will miss the game on Monday against the Giants.
The Falcons made calls to several agents of free agent kickers before a final decision.
Tavecchio didn’t get a field-goal attempt in the 34-7 loss to the Dolphins in the exhibition season, but made his only extra- point attempt.
“There are a couple guys that we are talking to and he’s certainly one of them,” Quinn said on Monday of Tavecchio. “Coming in, part of the reason why we are bringing some guys in is for contingency planning.”
Tavecchio was signed on the Raiders active roster last season following the injury to Sebastian Janikowski. He appeared in all 16 games and converted 16 of 21 field-goal attempts, including making 3 of 4 from 50-plus yards.
Tavecchio, from Italy, started his NFL career with the 49ers in 2012 after a fouryear collegiate career at California. He has also spent time with the Packers and Lions.
Bryant left Sunday’s game after making a key 57-yard field goal in the 34-29 win over the Bucs. The replays of the kick appear to show distinct muscle movement in Bryant’s kicking leg.
Bryant, 43, was dejected in the locker room after the game.