Atlanta Falcons Declare Tight End Out for the Season

The Atlanta Falcons will be without their most promising young player for the remainder of the year. Head coach Arthur Smith announced at a Wednesday press conference that tight end Kyle Pitts has undergone season-ending knee surgery.

Coach Smith has ruled out Kyle Pitts for the rest of the season
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 30, 2022

Pitts has been unavailable since suffering a torn MCL in the Falcons' 27-24 Week 11 win over the Chicago Bears. He ends his season with 356 yards on 28 receptions at a disappointing 6.0 yards per target.

Pitts' absence will likely prove a huge problem for the Falcons as they pursue an NFC South title. At 5-7, they remain squarely in the hunt for the division due to the surprising struggles of the 5-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they'll have trouble closing the gap without the help of arguably their most valuable offensive player. Pitts led the Falcons in receiving as a rookie in 2021, totalling 1026 yards at an impressive 9.3 yards per target.

Pitts initially joined the Falcons as their fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Pitts absolutely dominated for the Florida Gators in the 2020 season, nabbing 43 receptions for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns over eight appearances in his final year with the team. Regarded by many as the greatest tight end prospect of all time, Pitts combines great size with explosive, slick athleticism.