Falcons vs. Colts: Post-game injury report

Today was, in a word, miserable. The Falcons are not the football team they should be right now. With a roster like this and a coaching staff that includes a wealth of experience, they shouldn’t be this bad. They just shouldn’t. Let’s talk injuries.

Ito Smith sustained head and possible neck injuries during the first quarter. He writhed in pain on the turf for a moment and then stood up, trying to walk off the field on his own. He had clearly sustained a head injury in that he was rather wobbly before trainers came out to help him off the field. They team hit him a “questionable” designation. And this left Kenjon Barner as the only other active running back. Unfortunately Barner went out during the fourth quarter and was evaluated for a possible concussion. So going forward, I’d expect one of Qadree Ollison or Brian Hill to be active in Week 4.

Jamon Brown went down late in the second quarter. He took a knee on the field and was joined by trainers before walking off the field. Wes Schweitzer replaced him initially, but Brown found his way back onto the field during the second half. Brown apparently injured his hand, which is probably why he was able to return, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Keanu Neal suffered a season-ending achilles injury, a little over a year removed from a season-ending ACL tear. Watching Neal as he lay on the turf, sobbing, may be one of the harder things I’ve endured as a Falcons fan. Neal threw his helmet in frustration, which apparently justified an unsportmanslike conduct penalty. Please let me know when you figure out that one, folks. Dan Quinn hedged a bit in his post-game presser about whether it was a tear. But I’ll be shocked if we haven’t seen the last of Neal this season.

Grady Jarrett suffered a toe injury late in the fourth quarter, earning a “questionable” designation. Finally Takk McKinley suffered a knee injury while sacking Jacoby Brissett. He managed to hobble off the field on his own, which is promising.

Discuss.