Jeff Okudah of the Atlanta Falcons was taken off the pitch after an ankle injury on Friday.

The severity of Okudah’s injury will not be known until Saturday, when an MRI is scheduled, according to Falcons coach Arthur Smith.

“Hopefully it’s optimistic and he’ll get back out there,” Smith said after practise.

Soon after Okudah was brought off the field, several Falcons players took a knee and offered a prayer together.

Okudah, the third overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draught, was acquired by Atlanta in April from the Detroit Lions, where he had two seasons.

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During his college career at Ohio State, Jeff Okudah was widely regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the nation. He displayed excellent coverage skills, physicality, and the ability to excel in man-to-man coverage. His performance on the field earned him several accolades, including being named a unanimous All-American in 2019.

After being drafted by the Detroit Lions, Okudah signed a four-year rookie contract and immediately became an integral part of the team’s defense. Unfortunately, his rookie season was cut short due to a season-ending injury.

Okudah had his greatest NFL season last year, starting 15 games and accounting for 73 total tackles, seven pass deflections, and one interception returned for a touchdown after suffering a core muscle injury in 2020 and a torn Achilles in the 2021 season opener.

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The former Ohio State star was on the final year of his rookie deal and was set to earn $3.6 million this season. According to NFL Network, Detroit also paid $1.5 million of Okudah’s salary to arrange his transfer.

Okudah was traded to Atlanta in return for a fifth-round draught selection in 2023, and he was anticipated to contribute to the Falcons’ defence, who signed additional veterans this summer in safety Jessie Bates III, linebackers Kaden Elliss and Bud Dupree, and defensive end Calais Campbell.