The Atlanta Falcons made tight finish Kyle Pitts the highest-drafted participant at his place within the Ordinary Draft Generation (since 1967) by way of taking him fourth total within the 2021 NFL Draft. He rewarded that religion with 68 catches that went for 1,026 receiving yards and a landing — becoming a member of Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Mike Ditka as the one rookie tight results in league historical past to eclipse a minimum of 1,000 yards in a season.

Alternatively, he hasn’t been near to attaining the ones heights since, and head teacher Arthur Smith is in spite of everything explaining what may well be the explanation. Pitts ignored seven video games in 2022 with knee headaches that ended with him desiring surgical procedure for a torn MCL. Following Pitts’ fresh efficiency, two catches for 21 yards in a 23-7 loss in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Smith inferred that Pitts isn’t totally wholesome. 

“Look at him, obviously he’s out there,” Smith stated Monday. “There are no perfect timetables. But there are certain things, you see him, and he’s doing really well right now and there are certain things that he can’t [do well]. It’s been a journey back. He’s going to get there.”

Smith additionally refused to show how near he believes Pitts is to being wholesome, best pronouncing the soon-to-be 23-year-old is “getting close.”

“I’d hate to put percentages on it, but you have to acknowledge that I thought [against Jacksonville] that there were some things outside that he looked as fast as he did as a rookie,” Smith stated. “It’s getting close… but to Kyle’s credit he continues to work and work behind the scenes and has never made an excuse out of anything.”  

The Falcons offense is averaging 15.5 issues in line with sport, connect for the fourth-lowest scoring offense within the NFL, which is why Atlanta is going through questions about second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder and how one can easiest get their offense “jumpstarted,” in Smith’s phrases. Discovering a quarterback and a scheme that may get the Falcons’ 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight finish going will have to be on the govern of the to-do checklist.