FLOWERY BRANCH—Falcons coach Mike Smith said starting defensive tackle Corey Peters and reserve safety Zeke Motta will be placed on injured reserve before the final regular-season game against Carolina on Sunday.

Smith said Peters suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during Atlanta’s 34-24 defeat at San Francisco late Monday night and is scheduled for surgery. Smith said it was a non-contact injury.

“This is going to be a tough offseason for Corey,” Smith said at his news conference today. “The rehab time on an Achilles puts us close to the start of next season. He’s going to have to get it going and hit it but I know he will. I feel for Corey. It’s tough injury to have especially at this time of season.”

Smith said Motta had surgery on Sunday to repair a fracture of the C1 verterbrae in his neck. Motta suffered the injury during Atlanta’s 27-26 victory over the Redskins on Dec. 15.

Smith said the receovery time for Motta’s injury is 4-6 weeks.

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