The Atlanta Falcons' injury-riddled season just added another victim to the list:
On Tuesday, the club placed starting left tackle Sam Baker (knee) on season-ending injured reserve.
Ominously, head coach Mike Smith, who normally avoids commentary on injuries, had said on Monday that he was concerned with the long-term implications of Baker's inability to stay healthy.
Baker, who was inactive in Atlanta's blowout home loss to Seattle, returned to action the previous Sunday, after missing the previous three weeks with back and knee issues.
In 2011, Baker was limited to seven starts, the result of undergoing back surgery during the season.
In his career, Baker has started 61 of a possible 89 games because of injury issues. Only in 2010 and 2012 — incidentally, the seasons when the Falcons entered the NFC playoffs with the No. 1 seed, had Baker started all 16 games.
Baker, who received a six-year, $41 million contract in the offseason, was a first-round pick in 2008, the same year the Falcons drafted quarterback Matt Ryan (also in Round 1).
In Baker’s absence, second-year pro Lamar Holmes has played the left tackle without a great deal of success. The Falcons entered Sunday with the NFL's worst rushing attack, a product of the offensive line's inconsistency for much of the season.
Holmes was originally expected to play the right side, which forced veteran Jeremy Trueblood — cut by Washington during training camp and signed by the Falcons five days before their season opener — to start in that slot.
On Tuesday, the Falcons also released linebacker Thomas Howard, most likely a move to create space to activate linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who is eligible to play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
The Falcons (2-7) might also sign offensive tackle Terren Jones (6-foot-7, 341 pounds), an undrafted free agent out of Alabama State, to replace Baker.
For the year, Atlanta has already lost Kroy Biermann, Bradie Ewing and star receiver Julio Jones (foot), while Roddy White, Steven Jackson, Weatherspoon and Baker, among others, have attempted to play through nagging injuries for multiple weeks.
