ATLANTA -- Atlanta Falcons starting strongside linebacker Brooks Reed underwent groin surgery, and his timetable for a return is unclear, coach Dan Quinn said Thursday night.
Reed, who signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract ($9 million guaranteed) after leaving the Houston Texans, has battled injury issues since joining the Falcons this offseason. Several groin injuries surfaced along with a hip injury, causing him to miss valuable practice time. He played in just one preseason game.
Reed's surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia. Meyers also performed recent groin surgeries for Eagles tight end Zach Ertz and Texans running back Arian Foster.
A league source told ESPN's Adam Caplan that Reed's surgery is expected to keep him out about six weeks, the typical recovery time for such procedures.
"We'll anticipate him being back in town over the next couple of days," Quinn said. "And then we'll take his status as it goes for the first week, when we get into that."
Teams are allowed to return one player from injured reserve during the season. If the Falcons elect to place Reed on IR next Tuesday, he would not be able to practice for six weeks. He would not be able to play in a game until he had been on IR for eight weeks.
If Reed is indeed sidelined for an extended period, Kroy Biermann is likely to step into the starting role at strongside linebacker in the base defense. The Falcons no doubt would like to preserve newcomer O'Brien Schofield for pass-rush situations, although Schofield is listed as Reed's backup on the team's depth chart.
Tyler Starr, a second-year player thought to be on the roster bubble, could find a place on the team now, depending on the recovery time associated with Reed's surgery.
The Falcons' roster has to be cut from 75 to 53 by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.