FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) - Falcons All-Pro Vic Beasley has a hamstring strain and is ruled out for this week’s game at Detroit, and could be sidelined even longer.
Atlanta coach Dan Quinn declined to say if last year’s NFL sacks leader will be out longer than this week.
Quinn did say Monday that it’s too early to tell if right tackle Ryan Schraeder will be sidelined against the Lions with a concussion. He and Beasley did not return after getting injured in Sunday’s 34-23 victory over Green Bay.
Beasley grabbed his right hamstring as he was on the turf after making a tackle in the third quarter. He yelled in frustration, apparently knowing he was done for the night, as he stood up and walked off the field under his own power.
Rookie Takk McKinley, the 26th overall draft pick, will take Beasley’s place with the first-team defense.
Beasley, the No. 8 overall draft pick of 2015, has two sacks this year. His hit from behind on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers resulted in a fumble Desmond Trufant returned for a touchdown. Beasley had 15.5 sacks last season and was named All-Pro as an edge rusher.
The Falcons are down two starters on defense with right end Courtney Upshaw nursing a sprained ankle. Upshaw was injured on Green Bay’s opening drive and did not return.
Quinn hasn’t ruled out re-signing longtime pass rusher Dwight Freeney, who had three sacks in 15 games with Atlanta last year. Freeney, 37, has not officially retired.
“He’s someone we still talk to on a regular basis,” Quinn said. “I know he certainly wants to play this year, but right now there are no changes on our end as we’re headed into today.”
Schraeder was injured on Atlanta’s opening drive, lying face-down on the turf after hitting his head on Devonta Freeman’s 1-yard touchdown run. Quinn said the severity of Schraeder’s concussion won’t be diagnosed until later this week.
“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse here,” Quinn said. “Let’s let everything played out for the next few days.”
Ty Sambrailo, acquired in a trade with Denver earlier this month, took every snap in Schraeder’s spot after the starter went down. Schraeder has made 45 consecutive starts, including three in the playoffs. He was signed to a five-year contract extension last November.
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