NFL: Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon out for season
Wednesday 11 June 2014 07:47, UK
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will miss the entire 2014 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during training.
Weatherspoon, who missed nine games last season with a foot injury, suffered the injury during a routine workout at the Falcons practice facility on Tuesday.
The oft-injured 26-year-old has managed to play a full 16-game schedule only once, in 2011.
"During Sean's run today with our medical staff, he suffered an injury," Falcons coach Mike Smith said in a statement.
"We sent Sean to the doctor for some additional testing and evaluation and unfortunately the results showed that he ruptured his Achilles tendon.
"Sean had been working extremely hard to get back on the field, but regrettably he will miss the entire 2014 season. He will have a procedure done in the near future and we expect him to make a full recovery."
The Falcons relied on undrafted rookies Joplo Bartu and Paul Worrilow last year with Worrilow emerging from nowhere to lead the team in tackles.
They also added another four linebackers during last month's NFL draft, although the first of those - Notre Dame's Prince Shembo - was only a fourth round selection.
