Atlanta Falcons Defensive Tackle Corey Peters Out for 6 Weeks

We have some really bad news coming from the Atlanta Falcons. According to sources, Falcons defensive tackle Corey Peters will be out for the first six weeks of the regular season. After the first six games, Peters will be able to begin practicing, and the Falcons can make a choice as to whether or not they will leave him on the reserve/non-football injury list. If he is progressing well from his foot injury, the Falcons will activate him, but there are no guarantees what his production on the field will be like.

Obviously this really hurts the Falcons. Peters was huge for Atlanta last season lining up at defensive tackle next to Jonathan Babineaux. The Falcons didn’t have a wealth of talent behind those two on the depth chart to begin the year with, and this didn’t help. Behind the starting tackles, the Falcons have Vance Walker, and rookie Travian Robertson lining up.

The good news is that Peria Jerry has been looking like a force throughout the pre-season. The Falcons 2009 1st round pick has been playing up to his billing this preseason after three disappointing, injury plagued seasons. He will line up next to Babineaux on the starting defensive line. Again, no guarantees that he is overwhelming during the games that count, but having him be a productive member in the fold is very good.

Drafting a defensive tackle like Peters in the 3rd round and having him become a starter very quickly is a great thing, but it hurts just as bad when he isn’t available. If ever there was a time for Peters to step up and produce for the Falcons, it is with this 2012 team.