atlanta falcons: What happened to Kyle Pitts? Major injury update on Falcons star TE

The Atlanta Falcons, who are fighting for a playoff spot and for the NFC South Division, received some bad news regarding tight end Kyle Pitts.

On Wednesday, November 30, they were informed that Kyle Pitts would be out for the remainder of the 2022 NFL season.

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Pitts suffered a knee injury in Week 11 and was placed on injured reserve. He underwent surgery on his knee on Tuesday. The timetable for his return won't allow him to play again this season.

Now that Pitts is out, tight ends Parker Hesse and Anthony Firkser will each get an increased role for the rest of the season.

Kyle Pitts having a down sophomore year after showing potential in rookie season

Over the course of his first two seasons in the NFL, it's hard to tell whether Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be a star or a bust.

He was drafted fourth overall in the 2021 NFL draft and was expected to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL. This was largely due to his monster senior season at the University of Florida.

At Florida, Pitts scored 12 touchdowns in eight games while gaining 770 yards on 43 receptions.

As a rookie last season, Pitts was productive. He played all 17 games and had 1,023 yards on 68 receptions. He became the second rookie tight end in NFL history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Despite the targets and yardage he recorded, he only scored one touchdown as a rookie.

Many thought Pitts would elevate his play this season, especially with finding the endzone. Through 10 games this season, Pitts has recorded 28 receptions, 356 yards, and two touchdowns.

While it doesn't seem like Pitts would have eclipsed 1,000 yards this season, his touchdown number total went up.

Next season, if healthy, we will get a better understanding of who Kyle Pitts is and what his true potential will be.