Falcons WR Douglas injures knee

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons suffered another blow at the depleted wide receiver position when Harry Douglas suffered an injury to his left knee Wednesday.

Douglas went down after catching a pass from Matt Ryan during a one-on-one passing drill.

After practice, Falcons coach Mike Smith said “I wish I could tell you what’s going on as far as the injury,” but said it would be Thursday before he can provide any information. “We’ll know more after the doctors get a chance to look at him,” he said.

The Falcons are not sure about the severity of the injury, but Smith wouldn’t speculate.

“Anytime that you lose any player, it’s not the best situation,” Smith said. “Harry is integral part of our team.”

Quarterback Matt Ryan let go with a loud expletive on the field and receivers Michael Jenkins and Brian Finneran rushed to Douglas’ aid. Douglas tried to get up, but could not make it.

Finneran and a member of the trainer’s staff helped Douglas off the field and onto a cart.

“I hope that Harry is doing all right and can get back to work tomorrow,” Ryan said. “He’s done a good job this camp. He’s worked hard this offseason. Hopefully he’s all right.”

Ryan said he didn’t have a clear vantage point of the injury. “I had just let the ball go,” Ryan said. “I didn’t really see it.”

The Falcons are already weak at wide receiver because of Roddy White’s holdout. He has missed five days and is being fined $15,888 per day for his absence. The team signed rookie wide receiver Dicky Lyons Jr. on Tuesday, but he was released after just one practice.

As for whether the Douglas’ injury will affect the team’s stance toward White, general manager Thomas Dimitroff said the situations are unrelated.

Douglas, who played at Jonesboro High, turned in a stellar 2008 season as a rookie. A third-round pick from Louisville, he played in all 16 games and caught 23 passes for 320 yards, rushed 12 times for 33 yards — mostly on reverses — and averaged 11.9 yards per punt return. He scored one touchdown receiving, one rushing and one on a punt return.

With White’s holdout, Douglas was receiving more snaps with the first-team unit. Finneran finished the practice at his spot.