Desmond Trufant to have season-ending pectoral surgery

Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant will have season-ending pectoral surgery. This is a devastating loss for the Falcons defense.

While most of the Atlanta Falcons were able to get healthy on their Week 11 bye, Atlanta will have to play the rest of the 2016 NFL season without its best defensive player. Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.

This is devastating news for the Falcons defense, as Trufant has become one of the NFL’s preeminent shutdown corners. Atlanta is an offense-first team and needs some guys to step up in Trufant’s extended absence.

If there are any consolation prizes to losing Trufant for the season, here are a few. Atlanta leads the NFC South heading into Week 12. The Falcons have seen several young players like edge rusher Vic Beasley Jr. and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett flourish in 2016. Atlanta won’t play a cold-weather game the rest of the regular season. This is very much an offensive-minded football team.

In short, Atlanta is better equipped to handle the loss of Trufant for the season than in years past. Head coach Dan Quinn will certainly lean on other secondary players like Keanu Neal, Robert Alford, and even the inconsistent Jalen Collins. Atlanta’s defensive schematics aren’t terribly difficult to grasp. The Falcons will now probably play more man than zone the rest of the way.

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The best way that the Falcons can overcome this loss is to get a solid pass rush going in the latter part of the season. Atlanta’s front seven is vastly improved. It might be good enough to offset its issues in the back end. However, losing Trufant only makes Atlanta worse defensively. Can the Falcons overcome this loss?