Falcons Lose Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon to Torn Achilles
The Atlanta Falcons were hoping to get better on the defensive side of the ball in 2014, not worse. Unfortunately, the latter may be tough to avoid thanks to the latest big injury to hit the NFL. Star linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has reportedly suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and will miss the entire 2014 season.
It’s a gigantic blow to an Atlanta defense that had completely rebuilt their defensive line in an effort to get stronger against the run and pass rush. Those concentrated efforts appear to be in vain now, however, as Weatherspoon is a seemingly irreplaceable loss.
The Falcons were a swiss cheese unit without Weatherspoon for nine contests in 2013, and looked much more cohesive and competitive with him on the field for seven starts when he was healthy.
Weatherspoon battled a nagging knee injury for much of 2013, however, one in which that he continued to rehab during the offseason and reportedly contributed to the Achilles injury.
Weatherspoon had previously played on the outside as Atlanta’s weakside linebacker in their 4-3 base defense, but with talks of incorporating at least some packages of a 3-4 system, he was expected to be a key piece. Weatherspoon would have remained on the outside for 4-3 packages, but his versatility as an inside presence for the 3-4 packages would have been a great asset.
The Falcons will have to figure out how to proceed without the 27-year old Weatherspoon in every regard, however, as he appears to be lost for the entire season with a devastating injury.
Fourth round draft pick Prince Shembo is the early candidate to replace Weatherspoon, but does not look like a concrete replacement. The Falcons had previously taken little action to add depth at the linebacker position, but could be forced to consider a trade or look at remaining free agent options with this latest loss.
Weatherspoon will enter 2015 as a free agent coming off a whopping 25 missed games in the past two seasons. He should struggle to find any suitors for a long-term deal and could simply return to Atlanta on a cheap one-year deal.
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