Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon ruptures his Achilles

The Atlanta Falcons will have to play the rest of 2016 without starting linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, as he ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week 4’s win.

The Atlanta Falcons are in first place in the NFC South through four weeks at 3-1. They are moving the chains magnificently on offense, but the defense has looked terrible through the first quarter of the season. It just took a big hit, as starting linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is now lost for the year after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Weatherspoon told ESPN’s Vaughn McClure that he did rupture his Achilles in the Falcons’ Week 4 home victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. This is the second time in three seasons that Weatherspoon has ruptured an Achilles tendon.

He missed the entire 2014 season for the Falcons after suffering an Achilles injury during training camp. Atlanta went 6-10 that year. Long-time head coach Mike Smith was fired after seven seasons with the Falcons. Weatherspoon would sign a one-year deal to play for the Arizona Cardinals in 2015.

Though he returned to his favorite team in Atlanta, this might be the end of the road for the former Falcons defensive standout. Weatherspoon had been a fan favorite in Atlanta — probably the Falcons’ most popular linebacker since Keith Brooking. However, multiple injuries to his Achilles tendons have to signify that it’s time for Weatherspoon to hang up the spikes.

Losing Weatherspoon is awful news for a porous Falcons defense. The front four struggles to create pressure. Atlanta’s linebacking corps plays hard, but is lacks NFL talent. The Falcons secondary has its moments, but too often gives up the big play.

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Atlanta can lean on its NFL-best offense this season, but for the Falcons to reach the NFC Playoffs they’ll need the defense to step up. Weatherspoon is a strong vocal leader, but that’s all he’ll be for the rest of the season for the 2016 Falcons.