Antone Smith out for 2014 season; Robert Alford to miss 2-4 weeks

The Atlanta Falcons were able to hold on for dear life in securing a win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and as a result, the team is in the driver’s seat (somehow) in the NFC South. However, the team will be short-handed moving forward, as running back Antone Smith will miss the rest of the 2014 season with a broken leg, while cornerback Robert Alford could miss two to four weeks with a wrist issue.

Antone Smith has emerged as a fan favorite this season, racking up five touchdowns while averaging 10.2 yards per touch combined between rushing and receiving. The 29-year-old has been a special teams “ace” for years in Atlanta, but his explosive nature on the offensive end has been a welcomed addition, and this injury is certainly unfortunate.

With that on the table, perhaps the bigger loss is Robert Alford. The 26-year-old Alford has come under scrutiny in some circles during parts of the 2014 season, but he is the team’s second-best cornerback behind Desmond Trufant, and the drop-off was visible on Sunday when the secondary suffered problems after his early exit. Much of the fan base is not high on the former second-round pick, but at worst, he is a capable cornerback on a defense that needs all of the help it can get.

The Atlanta Falcons will host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Stay tuned for all the latest.