Falcons Edge Rusher Za'Darius Smith Exits With Concussion and Neck Injury

The Atlanta Falcons are holding onto a 7-0 lead against the New Orleans Saints, but their defense just took a massive hit. Veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith is heading to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion and a neck injury.

According to Marc Raimondi, Smith is officially questionable to return. But let us be honest, anytime the words "neck injury" and "concussion" appear in the same update, the odds of seeing that guy back on the turf are roughly zero.

"Marc Raimondi reported: 'Za'Darius Smith is being evaluated for a concussion and neck injury. He is questionable to return.'"

There are injuries you can tape up and play through, and then there are injuries that make the entire training staff hold their breath. A neck issue is the ultimate red flag in a sport built on high-speed collisions.

Losing Smith changes the entire math for the Atlanta defense. He is the kind of veteran edge presence that forces opposing offensive lines to adjust their blocking schemes, and his absence gives the Saints a massive break in the trenches.

For anyone holding live tickets on this NFC South showdown, the Falcons trying to protect a slim lead in the Superdome without one of their best pass rushers is a terrifying proposition. It is like trying to change a tire on the highway while the cars keep speeding up.

We will wait for the official word from the team, but expect Atlanta to lean heavily on their rotational guys for the rest of the night. If Smith enters the concussion protocol, his status for next week is already in jeopardy.