FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — For the second straight year, a former Virginia Tech star will miss part of the Atlanta Falcons' season because of a preseason injury.

Falcons coach Jim Mora said Tuesday that starting cornerback DeAngelo Hall, the Falcons' first-round draft pick this year, will be sidelined six to 10 weeks with a fractured left hip. Hall, who was not at practice Tuesday, suffered the injury in last Saturday's preseason win over Cincinnati and was sent to a hip specialist this week. He will be on crutches for two to three weeks.

"It's a little more serious than we originally anticipated," Mora said after practice. "I'm sure that he's very, very down about it, but he'll work hard to get back. . . . That's a blow to us."

Quarterback Michael Vick broke his right fibula in a preseason game last year and didn't return until November.

Hall was burned by Vikings receiver Randy Moss for a 67-yard touchdown in an exhibition two weeks ago, but Mora said Hall had been making progress.

"We saw what happened against Minnesota and Randy Moss," Mora said. "It was good to see him come back the other night against Cincinnati and make a couple more plays on the ball."

Mora doesn't expect the injury will slow Hall's development.

"He'll make progress even being hurt because he'll sit in there and he'll watch film and he'll study," Mora said. "He's a real cerebral player as it is. So when he comes back, it'll just be a matter of getting himself back in shape physically."

Safety Keion Carpenter, an ex-Hokie who has been with the Falcons since 1999, has been impressed with Hall.

"I just love his attitude to go along with his physical attributes," said Carpenter, who will miss the entire season because of a knee injury he suffered in June. "He's going to be a great player in this league. Unfortunately he has to fight some adversity."