Hawley suffered a torn ACL during Sunday's game against the Vikings, ESPN reports.

Hawley has now been placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of this season, leaving the Falcons' offensive line without another key contributor.

Joe Hawley remains the favorite for the Falcons' starting center job.

Hawley is competing with Peter Konz, but is fully expected to be the Week 1 starter. He was given a two-year extension in March and is set to make $2 million in base salary this season. Hawley finished as a top-20 run blocking center by Pro Football Focus last year, but struggled in pass protection.

C Joe Hawley and C Peter Konz will battle it out to be the Falcons' starting center.

Hawley has the upper hand. The Falcons invested $3 million guaranteed in Hawley this offseason, and he dramatically outplayed Konz after taking over for him at center midway through 2013. Hawley should win this job easily. Konz will be a reserve interior lineman for Atlanta.

Falcons re-signed C Joe Hawley to a two-year contract.

Hawley was a priority for the Falcons after starting the final seven games of 2013. He replaced a struggling Peter Konz. Although Hawley was a (major) upgrade on Konz, he was still only the No. 20 center in Pro Football Focus' ratings. He can't be the Falcons' only plan at center.

ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure expects the team to prioritize re-signing free agent C Joe Hawley.

Hawley, a 2010 fourth-rounder, started the final seven games at center last season in place of a struggling Peter Konz. He had a couple hiccups against the Bills and Panthers but played well overall, not allowing a single sack. Hawley can also play guard. He won't be expensive for the Falcons to retain.

Falcons OL Joe Hawley's 2013 base salary increased from $575,000 to $630,000 after Hawley hit escalators in his rookie deal.

After starting 12 games in 2011, Hawley appeared in just six games this past season due in part to being busted by the league for violating the policy against PEDs. He could be in line to start at center in 2013 if veteran free agent Todd McClure retires or isn't re-signed.

Falcons activated G/C Joe Hawley from the reserve/suspended list.

WR Kevin Cone was sent to injured reserve in a corresponding roster move. A swing lineman, Hawley earned a four-game PED ban in November. He had played only 22 snaps before landing on the suspended list. He'll provide depth for Atlanta's playoff run.

NFL suspended Falcons G/C Joe Hawley four games for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing substances.

The specifics on Hawley's suspension are unclear, but he will be ineligible to play in games until Week 16. Hawley is an interior "swing" lineman, backing up at both guard and center. He's only played 22 snaps of offense this year.

Falcons agreed to terms with fourth-round C/G Joe Hawley on a four-year contract.

With left guard Justin Blalock catching heat for his run blocking, the Falcons snagged Hawley and third-rounder Mike Johnson in this year's draft. Hawley may see time at all three interior positions, but he's considered the eventual successor to Todd McClure at center.

Falcons rookie G/C Joe Hawley is considered the "heir apparent" to Todd McClure at center.

If that was Atlanta's intention, it's surprising that they wouldn't have gone with Boston College's Matt Tennant instead. GM Thomas Dimitroff seems to prefer Hawley due to his "nasty side," which he compares to Patriots guard Logan Mankins' disposition.

Falcons selected UNLV G/C Joe Hawley with the No. 117 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Hawley was a three-year starter for the Runnin' Rebels and goes 6-foot-3, 310. It's somewhat surprising that he went ahead of Boston College's Matt Tennant as one of the top centers off the board, but he is more of a power blocker than the smallish Tennant. Hawley has an outside chance to emerge as longtime Falcons center Todd McClure's eventual successor.