Kyle Pitts. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts suffers torn MCL

By Cory Woodroof | Last updated 11/21/22

The injury that Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts sustained on Sunday against the Chicago Bears is worse than initially thought.

NFL inside Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that Pitts has sustained a torn MCL that will likely knock him out for the rest of the 2022 season.

Sources: #Falcons standout TE Kyle Pitts is believed to have suffered a torn MCL that would require surgery. This is following his MRI today. A brutal blow to one of the game’s best young players. He’ll have a second opinion before deciding what's next. pic.twitter.com/bR4PyMJNks
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 21, 2022

Pitts, the team's 2021 first-round pick, hasn't quite lit up the league this season due to Atlanta's inconsistent quarterback play.

However, he is still a terror at the position and his absence will be majorly felt in the Falcons offense.

Pitts jogged off the field on Sunday after going down with a hit to the knee area, but initial word suggested his injury wasn't as serious as thought. Monday's MRI told a different story.

It's tough to gauge exactly how long Pitts might be out. It's more than likely that he is done for the 2022 season with only six games left on Atlanta's schedule. A second opinion will confirm that.

The focus for the Falcons will be getting Pitts healthy for the 2023 season. The team has Parker Hesse, Anthony Firkser, MyCole Pruitt, and Feleipe Franks on the roster at present.

At 5-6, the Falcons are still alive in the NFC playoff hunt. Losing Pitts will make it harder to get there.

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