FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It's been a week since Falcons starting right tackle Kaleb McGary was carted off the field in one Atlanta's final practices of the preseason. It's been just as long since it was report backup tackle Storm Norton underwent ankle surgery that very week. With initial rosters officially set and practice squads leveling out, head coach Raheem Morris detailed the Falcons' plan for the starting right tackle spot moving forward.
As has already been reported, McGary is out for the year after being placed on injured reserve prior to initial rosters being set. Norton was also placed on injured reserve, but he was given a designation to return. According to reports, that could be as soon as the first couple weeks following the Falcons' Week 5 bye.
Morris said the plan — at least in the short term — is to rely on players the Falcons already have in house.
The first name to know here is Elijah Wilkinson. Wilkinson has cross trained across the Falcons' offensive line, taking live game reps in the preseason at guard against Detroit and tackle against Tennessee. When McGary went down with his injury, it was Wilkinson who finished the practice in McGary's place, and it is Wilkinson who is the frontrunner for the starting spot as it stands right now.
Morris noted others could be in the conversation as well. He added that the Falcons will also look to rookie tackle Jack Nelson and 2024 free-agent signing Brandon Parker. Both tackles took the primary game reps last Friday night in Dallas for the team's final preseason game. At this particularly time, though, only Nelson and Wilkinson are on the active roster. Parker is on the practice squad.
"Those guys will be competing for the right now of being able to go out there and play right tackle for us and having those guys out there getting ready to go, giving those guys the best opportunity to mesh and move forward to go get a win versus Tampa," Morris said. "... I got a lot of confidence in those guys that were here (for the preseason)."
Still, the Falcons have done their due diligence to scour the league for help in depth. They traded a conditional 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Michael Jerrell, a young tackle who started three games for Seattle in 2024. The team also added Carter Warren and Ryan Hayes to join Parker on the practice squad. Between the two, Warren has the most experience. Previously with the New York Jets, who selected him in the fourth round, Warren played in 14 games, starting six, between 2023-24. He has taken 544 career offensive snaps, with 141 coming last year exclusively at right tackle, according to PFF.
The Falcons will allow those new pieces to settle in before truly considering their future opportunities at tackle. So, the expectation is that Wilkinson gets the nod early.
"It would be unrealistic for me to tell you that they'll be ready to play Week 1," Morris said of the newcomers. "I have seen it done before at different positions. I have seen it done at the tackle position, but to beat some of the guys who are here who have been doing some of the stuff they've been doing will be pretty hard."
There's always a chance, though, that something manifests for one of those players down the line. For the time being, though, it's the in-house options that'll be relied upon most. And that brings us to one more option, which is one that may bring forth more questions than answers as it would shift Falcons' offensive line needs around once again.
That third option involves moving starting left guard Matthew Bergeron to right tackle and backfilling his role at guard with someone like Kyle Hinton, for example. Morris said this is something the Falcons considered, and even worked out with Bergeron seeing as Bergeron was exclusively a college left tackle.
"He is one of those guys who can do anything for us," Morris said.
Based on Morris tenor, though, it feels like this option is a true break-glass-in-case-of-emergencies option. Though the Falcons can — and will continue to — consider this move with Bergeron, the priority seems to lie with Wilkinson, at least (again) in the short term.
"It's sad," Falcons starting right guard Chris Lindstrom summarized of the situation. "But at the same time you're — it's hard to say you're excited — but you like the room and what you have because you see the competition and guys really trying to step up now."
Join the Atlanta Falcons on the practice field during Tuesday practice during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Details of a helmet during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Elijah Dotson #41 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Jake Hanson #72 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 and Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Ronnie Perkins #50 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Morgan Fox #99 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron #65 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes #21 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Keith Taylor #39 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 and Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter #38 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson #71 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons long snapper Liam McCullough #49 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Henry Black #32 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Jack Nelson #69 and Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier #25 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Dylan Drummond #81 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V #87 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jamal Agnew #14 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
