Falcons Lose DE Kroy Biermann & FB Bradie Ewing for Rest of Season

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Kroy Biermann (71) walks off the field in the third quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout their Week 2 victory over the St. Louis Rams, the Atlanta Falcons were bitten hard by the injury bug. On Monday, the shoe dropped in a major way, illustrating that the team’s first win of the season didn’t come without long-lasting consequences.

The official Falcons Twitter account couldn’t have put it any more plainly, as the team has lost two “starters” for the duration of the season. Defensive End Kroy Biermann has been diagnosed with a torn achilles tendon in his right foot, and fullback Bradie Ewing has a badly separated shoulder to blame for his sudden departure.

Biermann is the far greater loss for this Falcons team, as he was going to be relied upon heavily to generate pass rush on the opposite side of Osi Umenyiora. In 5+ seasons with Atlanta, he has 16.5 sacks, and while his role changed a bit this season, that production was expected to increase. Moving forward, his loss will put the emphasis squarely on Cliff Matthews, Jonathan Massaquoi, and Malliciah Goodman to pressure the quarterback, and the heat will be on that trio of young players from the moment the ball is snapped in Week 3.

In the case of Ewing, his absence won’t be felt as directly, but it’s still a brutal story for the young man. The 23-year-old fullback has 2 catches for 29 yards on the young season, but his forceful blocking in the hole ahead of Steven Jackson will be missed going forward.

Every win comes at a price in the NFL, but the loss of these two players is a significant one. We’ll simply have to wait and see what the long-term ramifications are, but the early returns aren’t positive.