Atlanta Falcons linebacker Brooks Reed had to undergo groin surgery last week and was placed on the Injured-Reserve Designated to Return List, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN. In other words, the Falcons will be without one of their difference-makers on defense for the first half of the season.
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The Falcons desperately need Reed and all the other defensive talent to stay healthy this season. First-year head coach Dan Quinn is taking over for Mike Smith, who watched Atlanta go 6-10 last year with the worst defense in the NFL. In the offseason, Reed was part of the makeover along with Justin Durant and first-round pick, defensive end Vic Beasley Jr.
Reed spent the first four years of his career with the Houston Texans after being drafted out of the University of Arizona in the second round with the 42nd-overall pick. Reed has racked up 14.5 sacks throughout his career, including six his rookie season. He was part of a dynamic linebacker group in Houston, alongside Brian Cushing and Mario Williams. At 28 years old, Reed was going to be a major part of Atlanta’s defense as an outside linebacker, both having to play the run and dropping into coverage.
Quinn comes over from the Seattle Seahawks after being their defensive coordinator, and is considered one of the best defensive minds in the game. Quinn runs a 4-3 and is relying heavily on Beasley Jr. and Kroy Biermann to get some pressure on the quarterback. With a very suspect secondary, the Falcons need to get home and force some throw-aways and negative yardage situations.