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          Falcons' Da'Shawn Hand needs quad surgery, likely out for '26

          • Marc RaimondiSep 14, 2026, 08:21 PM
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              Marc Raimondi's first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn't his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Raimondi also worked for the New York Post and Newsday, beginning in 2009, covering high school and college sports, plus the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.
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          Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand has a quad injury that will require surgery, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season, coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday.

          Hand tore his quad in the Falcons' 20-13 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported. Hand sought multiple opinions, but ultimately surgery was deemed necessary.

          "Obviously disappointed for Da'Shawn," Stefanski said. "Just been a great addition to this team on and off the field."

          The Falcons signed Hand to a one-year, $3 million contract in the offseason. He was a fourth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2018 and had played most recently with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025.

          Upon his arrival in Atlanta, Hand was thrust into a key role in the interior of the defensive line, which struggled against the run last season. Hand earned the nickname "Kingpin" from defensive line coach Nate Ollie as the line's "final boss."

          Hand, 30, ended up missing most of training camp with a leg injury but made it back in time to be on the Falcons' 53-man roster.