Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is on the verge of missing his first NFL game.
An update from NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport paints the grim picture.
#Falcons TE Kyle Pitts is not spotted at practice today. That's three in a row, a sign he's likely to miss Sunday's game vs. the #Bucs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2022
Rapoport tweeted, “#Falcons TE Kyle Pitts is not spotted at practice today. That’s three in a row, a sign he’s likely to miss Sunday’s game vs. the #Bucs.”
Pitts is dealing with a hamstring injury that might have given him a season-low 62 percent snap share in their Week 4 win against the Cleveland Browns.
His chances of playing against their division rivals are low, considering he has not participated in three consecutive practices.
He wasn’t spotted during the media-access portion of practice yesterday and sat out Wednesday’s practice.
It also takes a lot for Pitts to stay out of action, given he has played all 17 games in his rookie season.
Therefore, his injury could be severe, and he might also miss their Week 6 game versus the San Francisco 49ers.
If he ends up missing their Week 5 game, Parker Hesse and Anthony Firkser will likely see increased playing time.
Disappointing 2022 For Pitts So Far
Adam Schefter went on to confirm that Pitts is indeed out this week.
Falcons officially ruled out TE Kyle Pitts for Week 5 vs. Bucs due to his hamstring injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2022
Sitting out their game against the Buccaneers adds to Pitts’ frustrations this season.
Last season, the Florida alumnus had 68 receptions for 1,026 yards and one touchdown.
In contrast, he only has 150 yards after Week 4.
His best game came in Week 3 when he had 87 yards against the Seattle Seahawks.
As for the three other games, Pitts had 19, 19, and 25 yards.
Atlanta’s run-first offense with Caleb Huntley, Tyler Allgeier, and the now-injured Cordarrelle Patterson might have taken a toll on Pitts’ production.
Once he returns to action, getting him more involved gives the Falcons better winning odds.
NEXT: Cordarrelle Patterson Has Reached An Elite Level