Falcons TE Austin Hooper out for a month with MCL sprain

Falcons tight end Austin Hooper left Sunday’s win over the Saints due to a knee injury. Hooper, who’s been one of the NFL’s elite tight ends this season, had an MRI which revealed he has an MCL sprain.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team will be without its star tight end for about a month.

Update on the MCL sprain suffered by #Falcons TE Austin Hooper: He’s expected to be out about a month, source said. Not great news for the NFL’s leader in catches at his position.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 13, 2019

With just seven games remaining, you have to wonder if Hooper will even make it back on the field this season. Backup TE Luke Stocker should get more time over the next few weeks, but he’s not the weapon Hooper is.

Stocker has just six receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown in 2019.