The Falcons already are missing receiver Roddy White, who’s holding out in lieu of honoring the final year of his contract.
They’ll now be missing receiver Harry Douglas, a third-round pick in 2008 who won’t be playing at all in 2009.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN Future, Douglas suffered a torn ACL during practice on Wednesday. The injury occurred while Douglas was performing a one-on-one drill.
In the absence of White, Douglas had been elevated to No. 2 receiver, with Michael Jenkins taking White’s spot at the top wideout position.
Appearing in every game of his first regular season but starting none, Douglas caught 23 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 12 times for 69 yards and another score.
His biggest game came on November 23 in a 45-28 win over the Panthers; Douglas caught four passes for 92 yards (including a season-long of 69), and he scored on a seven-yard run.
Douglas also returned 19 punts for an 11.9-yard average, including a 61-yarder. He returned for kickoffs, averaging 11.5 yards per attempt.
Douglas started the Falcons’ wild-card playoff loss to the Cardinals, but he caught only one pass for no gain.
It remains to be seen whether the Douglas injury prompts the Falcons to cave in to White’s demands, or whether they’ll look elsewhere for assistance.
