After signing with the Falcons on Saturday, Jakeem Grant‘s season has already come to an end. The team announced that the return specialist was placed on injured reserve today.
[RELATED: Falcons Sign Return Specialist Jakeem Grant]
Grant made it through only one full practice before going down. Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the special teamer suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday that forced him off the practice field.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a shocking development for Grant, who has suffered through a list of injuries in recent years. After signing with the Browns ahead of the 2022 campaign, Grant suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season before it began. The veteran suffered another season-ending injury during the 2023 preseason, this time thanks to a ruptured patellar tendon.
Prior to his run of injuries, the former sixth-round pick was one of the most dynamic returners in the NFL. Grant collected six return touchdowns through his six healthy seasons, including a pair of kickoffs of more than 100 yards. Grant also showed some flashes on offense, including a 2020 campaign with the Dolphins where he hauled in 36 catches for 373 yards.
Considering his special teams prowess, teams were willing to look past his recent injury woes. Grant was a popular name on the workout circuit this offseason, getting looks from the Eagles, Saints, and Jets. Grant could potentially play again this season if he’s able to work out his release with the Falcons.
In Atlanta, Grant was likely going to be competing with the likes of Ray-Ray McCloud and Avery Williams for return snaps. He also could have seen a role on offense, especially following Rondale Moore‘s season-ending injury.
Why can’t they IR him with a designation to return? Limit on those designations I presume?
If they’re placed on IR before the season starts, they’re designated as out for the entire season, and the only way to activate them is to waive them off of injured reserve.
Oh wow
He can be waived/injured when he’s healthy enough to return, if that happens during the regular season. Given how long it’s been since he played in the regular season, he’ll probably have to upload a video showing him running like his old self before he’ll even get a workout from a team.
Waived would be a great idea. Do you really want a player who has 13 fumbles on just 346 career touches?
I think the reason he keeps getting chances is because he has six career touchdowns on returns, four on punts & two on kickoffs. Both of his kick return touchdowns are over 100 yards, and teams will roll the dice for that kind of explosiveness.