Falcons S Ricardo Allen out for season with torn Achilles

What’s worse than losing to the Saints? Losing the best defensive player the Falcons had left in the process. Falcons fans can’t have nice things, apparently, and that’s why safety Ricardo Allen is now out for the season after suffering a torn Achilles in Sunday’s loss.

The news was suspected by The Falcoholic staff, and it was confirmed on Monday morning by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The team confirmed the news via Twitter.

The Falcons, as you know, were already down Keanu Neal, who tore his ACL in Week 1 against the Eagles, and Deion Jones, who was also already on IR with a foot injury he suffered that week. Starting left guard Andy Levitre was placed on IR with a torn triceps last week. Takk McKinley missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury, and Devonta Freeman remains out with a knee injury.

Achilles tears are difficult to come back from. The Falcons are committed to Allen, as demonstrated by his three-year, $19.5 million extension. Here’s hoping for a swift and full recovery for the player Dan Quinn has called the “Eraser” of big offensive plays and who has become the field general for what should have been a very fun defense to watch this season.

Where do the Falcons go from here? We’ll explore the possibilities here at The Falcoholic over the next few days. For right now, it’s OK to just be sad about what might have been for this defense before so many of the team’s best players got injured.