I don’t have to tell you how decimated the 2018 Falcons were by injuries. Losing guys like Deion Jones and Devonta Freeman had a detrimental impact on the team. However, losing both starting safeties - Keanu Neal in game 1 and Ricardo Allen two games later - undoubtedly had the biggest impact on the defense.
While it’s never ideal to lose players for the season, it’s better that they were lost early on. The hope of getting both guys back in 2019 is still there, but how soon will that happen?