The Atlanta Falcons (2-2) won’t have tight end Kyle Pitts for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2), and there isn’t a player on the roster capable of doing everything that Pitts can.
Instead, the Falcons are taking a by-committee approach to replace their star tight end in Week 5. On Saturday, the team elevated MyCole Pruitt from the practice squad.
Pruitt, 30, spent the last four seasons in Tennessee, recording 34 catches, 386 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Many thought the veteran was a lock for the team’s initial 53-man roster, but he was beaten out by Parker Hesse and Feleipe Franks.
As for Pitts, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said he didn’t expect the injury to be long-term, and that the team is being cautious with its second-year tight end, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.
Some more from Falcons HC Arthur Smith on Kyle Pitts' hamstring injury:
-Not expected to be long-term.
-Woke up more sore than usual in the days after the Browns game, so Falcons being smart/safe with him throughout a long season rather than forcing & creating a lingering issue— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) October 7, 2022
For the season, Pitts has just 10 catches for 150 receiving yards. His loss is a tough blow for an Atlanta team that already lost its starting running back, Cordarrelle Patterson, to the injured reserve list Monday.
