SAD NEWS: Falcons FB won’t be able to play in the next season because of his injury

The Atlanta Falcons have three regular-season games left, and fullback Keith Smith will be unable to participate in any of them. Smith was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury on Saturday, according to Atlanta. Smith’s season is effectively over because of the four-game injured reserve mandate.

Smith was present at practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was not present on Friday. Smith was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts on Atlanta’s injury report, which was released on Friday. Smith, 31, appeared in 13 games this season, catching all three of his targets for 33 yards. In Atlanta’s last two games, he has recovered a fumble. Smith played on 21% of the Falcons’ offensive snaps and 65% of their special team snaps. Atlanta signed tight end Tucker Fisk to the active roster in Smith’s absence.

Fisk, 24, has appeared in three games this season and caught his first career pass in a 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. In addition, punter Pat O’Donnell and offensive lineman John Leglue were promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
O’Donnell is expected to take over for incumbent punter Bradley Pinion, who missed practice Friday due to his wife going into labor.