FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday the Atlanta Falcons will "more than likely" play offensive lineman Kyle Hinton at left guard Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts considering starter Matthew Bergeron's week-to-week status.
Bergeron injured his ankle during the Falcons' first offensive drive in last Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots. He played three snaps before his exit. Hinton played the remaining 53.
"If Berg can't go, Hinton has always been the next man up," Morris said. "He's been in that next-man-up mentality for us for a while. He has started and played in a couple games for us here and within the same system. He's been around for a while.
"It's the reason you sign those kind of guys, because you got so much trust and belief in those guys to go out there and get it done when you need to get it done."
Hinton has been in Atlanta since 2023, playing in 41 games, including eight this year. He made one start at right guard during his first season, when the Falcons lost to the Carolina Panthers in Week 15 and starter Chris Lindstrom was out with an ankle injury. Hinton played every snap.
That very well could be the case Sunday, too.
"I thought he did a good job once he settled into the game the other day," Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said. "He's obviously a big body in there. You feel the stoutness that he has in pass protection. You feel him in the run game as well. So, we got a ton of confidence in Kyle."
Morris thought Hinton performed well, too. So did the player himself.
"I mean, it's weird," Hinton said. "You don't get a lot of the reps with the 1s in practice. You know how it goes, being a backup and stuff. Then, just being forced out there pretty early in the game. So, overall, I think pretty good. A couple different miscues and stuff; that's on me. But I'm excited to get out there this week and show more of what I can do."
There's a chance the Falcons are also without Bergeron's opposite, starting right guard Chris Lindstrom. Morris deemed Lindstrom as day-to-day after the foot injury he sustained late in the Patriots game. Morris, though, feels "really good" about Lindstrom's potential.
Offensive lineman Storm Norton's return from injured reserve, however, isn't going so well.
He was designated to return on Oct. 22, fully participated in Week 8 practices and most of Week 9 but then he missed last Friday and was ruled out on the game report. The Falcons must either move him to the active roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve come next Wednesday, when his 21-day window closes.
Morris was asked this Wednesday whether Norton suffered a setback in his recovery.
"We'll kind of fill you in more there as we get more information," Morris said. "Obviously gathering and talking to our medical people, we'll get a feel. But it wasn't great news. It's something that I don't want to speak in all the full medical terms until I talk to our guys about it and what we're going to do. We'll have to figure it out."
It was reported back on Aug. 20 that Norton underwent ankle surgery. He was placed on injured reserve when the Falcons' initial roster was announced on Aug. 26. Since he has returned to practice, he has been listed with a foot injury.
The Falcons have been without their starting right tackle, Kaleb McGary, since the season began. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a leg injury when the initial roster was determined. Elijah Wilkinson has been playing in McGary's place.
Jake Matthews is the Falcons' starting left tackle. Ryan Neuzil is their center. Otherwise, the position group features depth options in Michael Jerrell, Jovaughn Gwyn, Jack Nelson and Andrew Stueber, who signed with the team Tuesday.
"Stueber does a bunch of different things for us as well," Morris said. "Stueber was able to play a little guard, do a little swing tackle for us, do a bunch of different things for us. So, that versatility that Storm provided us, we know we can get some of that stuff from Stueber."
