Falcons' Douglas out for season

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Falcons' second-year receiver Harry Douglas will miss the 2009 season after suffering a knee injury, Falcons coach Mike Smith confirmed Thursday morning.

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Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com Falcon wide receiver Harry Douglas had to be helped off the field after suffering a knee injury in Wednesday's workout.

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"It's disappointing to have Harry's season end before it got started," Smith said.

Douglas, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, went down after catching a pass from Matt Ryan during a one-on-one passing drill during Wednesday's practice. He was seen leaving the complex on crutches.

Douglas, a third-round pick from Louisville last season and a local Jonesboro High product, was used as a triple-threat. He caught passes, ran the ball and also was the team's top punt returner.

The team's receiving corps was already missing Pro Bowler Roddy White, who is holding out in a contract dispute with the team, and Laurent Robinson, traded to the St. Louis Rams over the offseason.

Douglas was replacing White in the starting lineup. With Douglas down, Brian Finneran would likely move into White's spot.

There are several untested candidates on the roster who will have a chance to take over Douglas role as the slot receiver, including Eric Weems, a former undrafted free agent who played in six games last season. Other candidates include Chandler Williams and Troy Bergeron, a former Arena Football League star.

The most difficult spot for the Falcons to fill will be punt returner. Douglas won the job last season after Adam Jennings struggled and was later released. Finneran came in to return punts when the team expected them to land inside their 20-yard line.

Some of the new punt return candidates include running backs Jerious Norwood and Thomas Brown, Williams and Bergeron.

White's holdout is in its sixth day. He is being fined $15,888 per day, pursuant to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement.

Negotiations have not gone well and White, who is under contract for the 2009 season, could be out for an extended period of time. He's set to make $2.28 million under his current contract. White is seeking a more lucrative contract.

Douglas' injury is not expected to push White's negotiations along.

"We will not approach it that way," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "In our minds, that's now how it works."