National Football League

Falcons rookie safety Neal to have 'minor' knee surgery

Published Aug. 26, 2016 6:11 p.m. ET

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ATLANTA (AP) Atlanta Falcons rookie safety Keanu Neal will miss the start of the season with a knee injury.

The team says Neal will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Monday and will miss three to four weeks. Neal, the team's first-round pick from Florida and a projected starter, hurt his knee in the first quarter of the Falcons' 17-6 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night. He had to be helped off the field.

The team says a MRI on Friday revealed Neal's injury.

The Falcons provided no update on wide receiver Julio Jones, who left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

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