Falcons' D-line adjusts to loss of Abraham

<p>The Atlanta Falcons began to adjust on Wednesday to the news that defensive end John Abraham will be out at least three to four weeks.</p><p>Then again, what's new? Only six weeks into the season, Abraham already has been out four weeks.</p><p>Abraham had surgery Monday to repair a torn lower abdominal muscle. The tear was found during an examination for a groin injury that was not healing as expected.</p><p>Abraham wasn't the only starter missing from the defensive line Wednesday. Defensive tackle Rod Coleman was held out of practice with a turf toe injury that kept him out of last Sunday's win over Pittsburgh.</p><p>Coleman is listed as questionable for this week's game at Cincinnati. Two second-year players _ end Chauncey Davis and tackle Jonathan Babineaux _ were on the first-team defense Wednesday.</p><p>Davis already has four starts this season. Davis, Babineaux and backup Josh Mallard recorded sacks in the 41-38 win over the Steelers, raising confidence that the line has sufficient depth to withstand the long-term loss of Abraham and a possible second straight week without Coleman.</p><p>"They're beat up," said linebacker Keith Brooking of the defensive line. "I think what took place in the game Sunday was a positive.</p><p>"We're better with Rod and Abraham in there, there's no doubt about it, but for now this is an opportunity for the young guys, and they're taking advantage of it."</p><p>Patrick Kerney will move from left end to right end to make room for Davis, who is more comfortable on the left side.</p><p>"I hate that those guys are out," Kerney said of Abraham and Coleman, "but it caused Babineaux and Chauncey to raise their games a lot more."</p><p>Davis and Babineaux were placed in similar emergency fill-in starting roles as rookies last season.</p><p>Davis, a fourth-round pick from Florida State in 2005, made five starts as a rookie. Babineaux, a second-round pick from Iowa, made six starts, playing end and tackle.</p><p>"One of the things that kind of held us back and slowed us down last year was having to play young guys," coach Jim Mora said Wednesday. "Those guys were good talented guys that just needed some seasoning, and they still need some seasoning."</p><p>Added Mora: "Rod and John Abraham are special pass-rushers. Not anyone can duplicate what they bring."</p><p>With Kerney, Coleman, Abraham and Grady Jackson, the Falcons had confidence in their four-man pass rush. A younger line needed more help last week.</p><p>"Last week there was a little more five- and six- and seven-man pressures," Mora said. "You have to find the heat somewhere else and sometimes you have to gas it up a little bit and bring some extra guys."</p><p>This is the second straight year the Falcons have had bad luck with their top big-money addition to their defense.</p><p>Last year the team signed linebacker Ed Hartwell to a four-year, $26.25 million deal. Hartwell suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the fifth game of the 2005 season. He has played in only one game this year, starting at middle linebacker last Sunday against Pittsburgh, after having preseason arthroscopic surgery on both knees.</p><p>The Falcons made an even bigger investment in Abraham, sending a first-round pick _ No. 15 overall _ to Denver in a three-team trade after agreeing to a six-year, $45 million deal with the defensive end.</p><p>Abraham has appeared in only two games as he battled a lingering groin injury before having the surgery Monday. The Falcons reported Abraham would be expected to miss at least three to four weeks, leaving open the possibility the recovery could take more time.</p><p>Mora said he has no time to worry about the bad luck with injuries to key additions.</p><p>"I don't think that way," he said. "I don't have time to. You can't let it bog you down. You can't let it frustrate you. You can't let it become a factor in the locker room. You just go. You can't worry about who's not playing."</p><p>Note: Mora said offensive guard Kynan Forney is questionable after suffering the second dislocation of his right shoulder in three games. The line already is without starting guard Matt Lehr, who this week will serve the second game of a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Tyson Clabo made his first career start for Lehr against Pittsburgh. Rookie Quinn Ojinnaka could make his first start if Forney cannot return, but Ojinnaka also is listed as questionable with a sore right ankle.</p>

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