Atlanta Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel left Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers late in the first half after he attempted to break up a pass and took a hit.
Asante Samuel injury: Falcons CB leaves for locker room
The Atlanta Falcons could be without their top cornerback in the second half.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Samuel remained down on the field for some time before walking to the sideline and eventually the locker room. It’s hard to draw too many conclusions from him leaving the field given there was just one minute remaining in the half. Sunday’s game will be considerably more difficult without Samuel, as the Falcons are trying to get past a tough divisional foe while dealing with a host of injuries.
This isn't really anything new for the Falcons cornerback as he's already missed time this season. The team will turn to rotational defensive back Robert Alford, who was selected in the second round of April's draft. He has totaled 12 tackles, five passes defended and one interception in seven games this season. He does not have the ball-hawking ability of Samuel, but has proven to be a solid player this season.
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