FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will miss the remainder of the season, coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday.
Pitts, who has 28 receptions for 356 yards and two touchdowns this season, underwent a procedure Tuesday that Smith declined to identify. Pitts posted on his Instagram account that the procedure was to repair a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee.
Pitts suffered an apparent knee injury in the team’s 27-24 win against the Bears on Nov. 20. Smith said he expected that Pitts likely would miss the remainder of the season but needed final word after doctors’ evaluation of the injury.
Smith said the team has no worries that Pitts, in his second season after he was selected in the first round of the 2021 draft from Florida, will return for next season. A Pro Bowl player as a rookie, Pitts has 96 receptions for 1,382 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games with the Falcons.
Smith said the team is pleased with Pitts’ progress this year in becoming a complete player.
“He’s such an impactful player, whether he touches the ball or doesn’t, and we’ve been able to run behind him this year, and some really efficient runs,” Smith said.
The Falcons will host Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons have used Parker Hesse, MyCole Pruitt and Anthony Firkser as tight ends. They have combined for 16 receptions for 148 yards.
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