Falcons Rumors: TE Austin Hooper to 'Miss Some Time' with MCL Sprain Injury

Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper suffered an MCL sprain in his knee during Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints and is expected to "miss some time," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Monday.

Hooper was limited to four receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown in the 26-9 win, by far his worst numbers of a breakout season.

Travis Kelce and Hooper are tied for the lead among tight ends in receptions (56), and his six touchdowns are tied for fourth in the NFL. He's on pace to shatter his career-best marks in every major category ahead of hitting unrestricted free agency this offseason.

The Falcons' backup tight end is veteran Luke Stocker, who has never caught more than 16 passes in a season. The 31-year-old has built a career playing on special teams and for his blocking at the position; he's compiled just six catches for 34 yards through nine games this season.

Losing Hooper will create a seismic shift in the Falcons offense, likely resulting in more passes heading in the direction of Calvin Ridley. The second-year wideout's production has been a bit underwhelming for those who expected him to break out after a promising rookie season. With Hooper out of the lineup and the Falcons not having a reliable alternate target at tight end, some of those underneath routes should go Ridley's way in the coming weeks.