BREAKING: Atlanta Falcons DT Grady Jarrett Tears ACL, OUT for Season | Arena

The Atlanta Falcons have suffered a big loss in the middle of their defense.

According to ESPN, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who departed Sunday’s 28-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans after playing just four snaps, will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.

The 30-year-old Jarrett has started all eight games, recording 23 tackles, eight quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and one-and-a-half sacks. Alongside David Onyemata, Jarrett helped give Atlanta one of the NFL’s best interior pass rush duos.

In place of Jarrett, the Falcons turned to LaCale London, who played a career-high 41 defensive snaps. London saw 10 snaps in his Falcons debut against the Washington Commanders and followed suit by playing 32 more the week after against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

London, 26, went undrafted out of Western Illinois in 2020. He played in one game for the Chicago Bears in 2021 and spent the spring of 2023 playing for the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.

The loss of Jarrett, a two-time Pro Bowler, can’t be overstated – he’s the second longest-tenured player on Atlanta’s roster, trailing only left tackle Jake Matthews.

Jarrett’s played in every game the past four years. He’s missed only three in his entire career. He’s now set to miss at least nine this season.

But for as impactful as Jarrett has been on the field, his value off the field is perhaps even greater. He’s been a permanent captain since 2020.

Now, the Falcons are forced to move forward without their stalwart in the middle – and will be facing a Minnesota Vikings team Sunday in a similar position, as quarterback Kirk Cousins is out for the season after suffering a torn right Achilles.

Atlanta, without Jarrett, and Minnesota, without Cousins, will kick off at 1 p.m. EST inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.