Takkarist McKinley has been one of the team’s few bright spots as a pass rusher through the first two games of the season. Given that this season has been an unrelenting nightmare on the injury front, I guess it was inevitable that Takk would get hurt, too.
Takk was not in for the last couple of series against the Panthers, sparking a real and understandable nervousness about his health. Now he’s dealing with a groin injury and the team is not providing any updates until Wednesday, which has been a kiss of death thus far this season. We’ll hope it’s minor, of course, but if he’s gone multiple weeks it would be a huge blow for a defense already missing both Deion Jones and Keanu Neal.
Dan Quinn said Takk McKinley has groin injury. No update until Wed
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) September 17, 2018
Takk, who is tied with Brian Poole for the team lead in sacks with two, is a physical presence along a defensive line that sorely needs one. If he’s out for any length of the time, the Falcons will more or less have to dip into free agency, especially since Derrick Shelby is also dealing with an injury that has left his status uncertain. We’ll hope it’s minor, but right now the Falcons only have Vic Beasley, Brooks Reed and Steven Means healthy at defensive end, and that’s a fairly terrifying thought with the Saints up next.
Please be healthy, Takk. Please.