Atlanta Falcons fifth-round wide receiver Kerry Meier will miss the 2010 season with a knee injury, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Meier was injured in the fourth quarter of the Falcons' 28-10 loss to the New England Patriots on Thursday night. Meier was covering a kickoff, which went into the end zone for a touchback.

The 6-2, 224-pound Meier began his college career at Kansas as a quarterback before converting to wide receiver in 2007. Meier wound up as the Jayhawks' all-time leader in receptions (226), with 2,039 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns grabs.

Meier was the 165th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and signed a four-year, $1.946 million contract that included a signing bonus of just under $157,000.

Meier's injury is another blow to the Falcons wide receivers corps, which will be without Michael Jenkins (shoulder) for the start of the regular season.