Post by Guvmintcheeze on May 28, 2015 2:16:04 GMT
Falcons cornerback Dezmen Southward undergoes knee surgery
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dezmen Southward underwent minor knee surgery Wednesday with the expectation of being back healthy for training camp, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.
Southward stood on the sideline during the first day of organized team activities Tuesday. Afterward, coach Dan Quinn said Southward's inactivity had to do with a knee injury. Southward had issues with his left knee last preseason and missed some practice time. It's unclear if Wednesday's surgery was on the same knee.
Quinn converted Southward from free safety to cornerback, hoping to take advantage of the second-year player' size (6-1, 210), length and speed on the outside. But this is the second setback this offseason for Southward, who also underwent wrist surgery to correct a problem that dated back to his college days at Wisconsin.
With Southward likely sidelined for the offseason, the Falcons will proceed shorthanded at cornerback. Rookie second-round pick Jalen Collins has not practiced since joining the team after undergoing right foot surgery prior to the draft.
The Falcons still has two healthy starting cornerback in Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford. Once Collins enters the mix, the first-round talent could push Alford into a nickelback role, a role Alford said he would be willing to accept for the good of the team. Newcomer Phillip Adams played the nickelback role during Tuesday's OTAs. The Falcons also hope to get something out of seventh-round draft pick Akeem King.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dezmen Southward underwent minor knee surgery Wednesday with the expectation of being back healthy for training camp, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.
Southward stood on the sideline during the first day of organized team activities Tuesday. Afterward, coach Dan Quinn said Southward's inactivity had to do with a knee injury. Southward had issues with his left knee last preseason and missed some practice time. It's unclear if Wednesday's surgery was on the same knee.
Quinn converted Southward from free safety to cornerback, hoping to take advantage of the second-year player' size (6-1, 210), length and speed on the outside. But this is the second setback this offseason for Southward, who also underwent wrist surgery to correct a problem that dated back to his college days at Wisconsin.
With Southward likely sidelined for the offseason, the Falcons will proceed shorthanded at cornerback. Rookie second-round pick Jalen Collins has not practiced since joining the team after undergoing right foot surgery prior to the draft.
The Falcons still has two healthy starting cornerback in Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford. Once Collins enters the mix, the first-round talent could push Alford into a nickelback role, a role Alford said he would be willing to accept for the good of the team. Newcomer Phillip Adams played the nickelback role during Tuesday's OTAs. The Falcons also hope to get something out of seventh-round draft pick Akeem King.