Grady Jarrett of the Falcons underwent successful surgery.
The Atlanta Falcons have gone through many changes in recent seasons, but one constant has been defensive lineman Grady Jarrett.
After years of hoping for the squad to finally add some defensive quality, Jarrett’s season was cut short in Week 8 due to a ruptured ACL. On Tuesday, the former fifth-round pick underwent successful knee surgery, and he thanked his followers and supporters on social media.
“Thank you to all my family, friends, fans, supporters and my brothers! For the support and well wishes, as I conquer this next challenge. I feel the love and prayers. In due time, Best is yet to come,” Jarrett wrote in the post.
The Falcons have struggled without Jarrett in the middle of their defense. Atlanta wasn’t able to stop Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs in Week 9, just one week after being torched by Titans rookie Will Levis.
Atlanta takes on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10 and quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to make his season debut.
Grady Jarrett, the Atlanta Falcons’ irreplaceable leader, has passed away.
The Atlanta Falcons will be without one of their finest players – and leaders – for the remainder of the season, but they believe he will return stronger than ever.
When the Atlanta Falcons landed on the runway following Sunday’s road game against the Tennessee Titans, assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray departed the plane behind defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.
Gray approached Jarrett, who played only four snaps in Atlanta’s 28-23 loss due to a knee injury, with a question.
“He was walking, and I said, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ And he said, ‘I feel positive,’ before he got the information,” Gray said.
That “information” was the outcome feared most – the Falcons announced Monday that Jarrett suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.
Since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2015, Jarrett has been a staple on Atlanta’s defense. He nearly owns as many Pro Bowl nods (two) as games missed (three).
In times of flux, Jarrett’s been a stabilizing presence – and now, with the Falcons tied for the lead in the NFC South and eyeing their first playoff berth in six years, their leader is no longer in the picture.
