Erik Harris | Facebook
Erik Harris | Facebook
Falcons safety Erik Harris’s 2021 season came to an end after he sustained a torn pectoral muscle.
The sixth-year veteran suffered the injury in the first quarter of Atlanta’s 29-21 road win over the Panthers on Dec. 12, the team reported on its website.
Harris, whom the Falcons signed a one-year deal during the off-season, played a few more snaps before exiting the contest.
“Harris was a significant defensive contributor, with 12 starts in as many games played,” the team said on its website.
A regular starter alongside safety Duron Harmon, Harris recorded 64 tackles, including three for a loss, and eight pass deflections in addition to two quarterback hits.
Jaylinn Hawkins filled in for Harris, and the Falcons expect him to be in the starting lineup the rest of the way.
The team could possibly lean on Richie Grant, who has more experience playing in the slot.
According to ESPN, the 31-year-old Harris required pectoral surgery.
Harris himself tweeted that the procedure was successful.
Aside from losing Harris for the season, the Falcons defense was dealt another blow with a calf injury to outside linebacker Dante Fowler.
"That's a blow just to a guy who has been effective," outside linebacker Steven Means told ESPN before learning the extent of Harris’s injury. “If either one of those guys [Harris or Fowler] miss any time, leaders of the defense, so I hope to God that it's not the case.”
The 6-7 Falcons are in a scramble for a playoff spot, with their chances boosted by the win over the Panthers.
Though the team has the NFL’s third-easiest remaining schedule, it essentially has to win out the rest of December.
As of this writing, the Falcons were preparing for a 49ers team that’s also determined to get into the playoffs.
According to the Falcons, the website FiveThirtyEight gave them a 12% chance at playing beyond Jan. 9, 2022.
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