Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant has a torn pectoral that is expected to require season-ending surgery, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Falcons released a statement Sunday saying Trufant will see a doctor this week and that a season-ending procedure is possible.
"If we go down that road -- and Tru is going to get some more opinions this week -- Jalen Collins would be the one that would step in at that spot, much like he did today," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said after Sunday's game. "We'll have more news about that as the week goes on. I was really pleased with the way Jalen competed today. If we do have to go down that road with Tru, we'll certainly miss him. But Jalen would be our guy that would step into that role."
Trufant was limited in practice this week and had been holding out hope he could play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
It is a significant loss for Atlanta, which will try to shut down the remaining teams on its schedule without its best cover cornerback.
"You really can't try to replace a guy like Trufant," said Falcons receiver Julio Jones. "But the way we're structured here, it's the next man up. Jalen is up now, and we just have to keep giving him those game-rep looks at practice so he can be ready to go in the game."
Trufant suffered the injury in a Thursday night Week 9 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He missed Atlanta's Week 10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles before the bye.
Information from ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure was used in this report.