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The Atlanta Falcons will place Pro Bowl halfback Devonta Freeman on the injured reserve following a groin injury, coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday.
"After the game against Pittsburgh, where Devonta was injured at the foot, we thought he was simply suffering from widespread pain in the groin," Quinn said. "As the week went on, it went on, so we decided to have tests done and it was decided that he would need a procedure that would allow him to place him on the injured reserve.
"We hope he can come back this season, but we will have a better idea of this in the coming weeks."
A source told ESPN that Freeman had not yet scheduled the procedure.
Freeman played only two of the first six games while he was slowed down by knee, foot and groin injuries. He injured his right knee in a defeat early in the season in Philadelphia and missed three games. Then during a defeat in Pittsburgh during the fifth week, Freeman was injured at the foot and in the groin.
After Freeman, the Falcons will now return to Tevin Coleman as a starter with rookie Ito Smith as a substitute. Coleman averaged 3.7 yards per race, while Smith set a rookie record in the franchise last weekend by scoring a touchdown in his third straight game.
The Falcons signed with Freeman an extension of $ 41.25 million over five years last year, which included $ 22 million in guaranteed money. Coleman, meanwhile, is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Freeman has accumulated 865 yards and 7 touchdowns in 196 attempts in 2017. He has had two consecutive seasons of 1,000 shots in 2015 and 2016. Last year, an important right knee injury limited Freeman's production .
His move to the IR is only the latest in a series of concerns for the Falcons. Keanu Neal, victim of Pro Bowl safety, suffered an ACL tear at the end of the season, while linebacker Deion Jones is currently undergoing resuscitation during a foot operation.
Jones could return before the Nov. 18 match against Dallas, though he is in good health.
The team also placed Ricardo Allen, the free playmaker, at the end of the season with an Achilles tear and lost left-back guard Andy Levitre with a triceps injury.
Falcons veteran kicker Matt Bryant suffered a hamstring strain after scoring 57 yards against the Bucs on Sunday. The team on Tuesday hired Giorgio Tavecchio to assume the leading role for the home game at least Monday night against the New York Giants.
Receivers Calvin Ridley (ankle) and Mohamed Sanu (hip) also face injuries, although it is known initially that they are not suspected of being serious.
Quinn said he is optimistic about the possibility of bringing back defensive line players Grady Jarrett (ankle) and Derrick Shelby (groin) from their respective injuries.
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