Thin at wide receiver, Falcons lose Douglas for season

NFL.com Wire Reports
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas will miss the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at practice on Wednesday. The team confirmed Douglas’s injury to NFL.com's Steve Wyche Thursday morning.
The loss of the emerging slot receiver further weakens a unit that is missing Pro Bowl wideout Roddy White, who is holding out for a new contract. Douglas’ injury will not affect contract talks with White, a team source told Wyche.
Still, not having two of its top three wide receivers is a setback for an offense poised to be among the NFL’s best. With White and Douglas out, Michael Jenkins and Brian Finneran are the top threats on the edge. The Falcons plan to sign at least one of three free agents who worked out for the team Thursday morning.
After catching a pass from quarterback Matt Ryan during Wednesday's practice, Douglas fell and grabbed his left leg. He tried to stand with help from Jenkins before again falling to the ground.
Harry Douglas, WR Atlanta Falcons 2008 Statistics Catches: 23Yards: 320Touchdowns: 1
"It's not a career-ender, we know that for sure," Douglas' agent, David Rich, told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. "And if you look at the history of these types of injuries, it usually is about a year to get back."
It will likely be six months befofe Douglas can begin his recovery, and Rich said his client could be looking to have surgery performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., once the swelling goes down.
Rich spoke with Douglas Wednesday night and said the wide receiver is maintaining a positive attitude despite the setback.
"We talked about the injury," Rich said, "and Harry told me, 'I'm going to be back, and prove that where I was going before I got hurt, is still the same place I'm headed.' "
The reality is, for many players who suffer ACL tears, particularly receivers and corners who do so much cutting and darting, the first season back is a feeling-out process, with lots of ups and downs. It often takes a full offseason of training and workouts after that to get back to top form, both mentally and physically.
Meanwhile, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who had been upbeat about the talks with White, said Wednesday that his optimism has waned.
Dimitroff told The Associated Press that negotiations with White and his agent, Jonathan Feinsod, might have to wait until after the season.
"I'm a little bit disappointed with how things have slowed down," Dimitroff said. "I feel like Roddy needs to be here, and he should be here with his teammates to continue to develop and grow.
"We want him to be here, and with the way the negotiations are going to this point, this may be something we need to readdress at the end of the season. As we all know, Roddy is under contract, and he would have to play at his current contract."
White's contract, signed before his 2005 rookie season, calls for him to be paid $2.5 million this season. He received his first Pro Bowl selection in 2008, when he had 88 receptions for a team-record 1,382 yards and seven touchdowns.
Feinsod said in an e-mail he had no comment on Dimitroff's statement.
White has missed the first five days of training camp and accrued fines of more than $79,000, or $15,888 per day. He is working out with former Alabama-Birmingham teammates in Birmingham.

"I think there's a point in missing training camps that it becomes a disadvantage to the player, in this case Roddy White," Dimitroff said. "That's something he and his representatives have to consider as well.
"Again, we're positive about him. We want him here, just not as encouraged about the direction of the negotiations at this point."
Neither Dimitroff nor Feinsod have revealed details of White's request for a new contract or the Falcons' offer.
The Falcons were concerned about their lack of depth at wide receiver even before Douglas was injured Wednesday. The team signed rookie free agent Dicky Lyons Jr. on Tuesday, but he was released after one practice.
Atlanta Falcons » Video Schedule Stats » Roster Depth chart Transactions » Official site: AtlantaFalcons.com
Douglas, a 2008 third-round draft pick from Louisville, had 23 catches for 320 yards and one touchdown in his rookie season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
17 Comments 0 Recommendations E-mail
falconboi
I knew this holdout thing would be bad from the get-go, but everyone kept justifying White's side....NOW everyone sees the problem.
about 19 hours ago
Recommend Report
atlantafalconsfan123
man this gets me pissed off roddy whites bieng a jerk and dougles is injured so mutch for a hella good season
about 23 hours ago
Recommend Report
jbratl
I would say Roddy White should get some good money if he had caught that touchdown pass in the endzone to win the game against Denver but he didn't. Even if he did he shouldn't get Larry Fitzgerald type money. That's just ridiculous.
about 24 hours ago
Recommend Report
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