Atlanta Falcons loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener will now sting even more after the medical report came on their Pro Bowl safety Keanu Neal showing a torn ACL. This means that Neal is out for the season, and Falcons will have to find a way to replace one of their key playmakers.
Keanu Neal was initially got hurt in the first half of Thursday’s game but managed to return to action in the second half. He was injured once again shortly after that and ended up being taken out of the game. While the initial prognosis was optimistic, the MRI on Friday showed the severity of the injury.
“That one hurts for us because he certainly exemplifies not only our style but [what we stand for] as a ballplayer and as a teammate, too,” – said Falcons’ coach Dan Quinn about losing one of his best players. “We’re bummed for him.”
Asked about a possible replacement for Neal, Quinn said that the team would first look internally and mentioned 2017’s fifth-round pick Damontae Kazee and four-year veteran Jordan Richards. Falcons’ coach also doesn’t’ exclude signing a free agent veteran.
Keanu Neal was Atlanta Falcons’ 17th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Neal made an immediate impact in his rookie season, managing 106 tackles and five forced fumbles while being selected as part of PFWA All-Rookie Team. In the last season, he had 116 tackles, three forced fumbles, and one interception, which earned him his first Pro Bowl selection.
