Atlanta Falcons suffer huge injury blow ahead of new NFL season with Kaleb McGary
Atlanta Falcons suffer huge injury blow ahead of new NFL season with Kaleb McGary to miss 'significant time'
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By DANIEL MATTHEWS,
Falcons star Kaleb McGary is headed to injured reserve - just days after signing a two-year, $30million contract extension.
The right tackle was carted off at practice earlier this week and Raheem Morris said Friday night that McGary is battling a lower left leg injury and 'will miss significant time.
The Atlanta coach did not provide any other details but the team had previously said the seventh-year pro would undergo an MRI.
'He will miss significant time,' Morris said after the Falcons suffered a 31-13 loss in their final preseason game at the Dallas Cowboys.
'Obviously, it looks like an IR, whatever the case may be. I don't know all the details of it.' McGary only signed a two-year extension on August 4.
Teams can put two players on injured reserve with a designation to return when rosters are cut to 53 players Tuesday.
Those players are sidelined at least the first four games of the season. Atlanta opens the season September 7 at home against Tampa Bay.
Falcons star Kaleb McGary will miss significant time and is headed to injured reserve
The right tackle was carted off at practice this week and is battling a lower left leg injury
McGary's absence means the Falcons will have to find a new blocker to protect the blind side of left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the 2024 first-round pick who is entering his first full season as the starter.
Veteran Elijah Wilkinson, who has played both tackle and guard in his eight-year career, replaced McGary after the injury Wednesday. Wilkinson was the first player Morris mentioned when asked about replacements Friday night.
Morris also brought up Jake Matthews, currently listed as the starting left tackle. He also brought up both players currently behind McGary on the depth chart in Brandon Parker and Jack Nelson.
McGary, a 2019 first-round pick who has started 92 of 93 games, recently committed his future to Atlanta through 2027.
The injury to McGary came less than an hour after Morris said most starters wouldn't play against the Cowboys, and the Falcons stuck with that plan.
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