DALLAS — Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed that starting right tackle Kaleb McGary is expected to miss "significant time" with a left leg injury. Morris added that an injured reserve designation could be possible in the coming days.
"The thing I will say to you now is that he will miss significant time," Morris said following Friday night's final preseason game in Dallas. "Looks like it will be IR, whatever the case may be, we will have to see there, but he will miss significant time for us."
As a reminder, new injured reserve rules that were introduced last year make it to where teams can place two individuals on IR with a designation to return during roster cuts and they do not count towards the initial 53-man roster total.
McGary was carted off the field during Wednesday's practice with a lower left leg injury. A team spokesperson shared that afternoon that McGary would undergo an MRI. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler then reported Thursday afternoon that McGary would "miss time" because of the injury. However, no specific timeline was shared within the report.
All of this on its own is a negative notch on the Falcons' offensive belt, but coupled with another report — this one from ESPN's Adam Schefter stating backup tackle Storm Norton underwent ankle surgery Tuesday — dealt an even heftier blow. Norton is expected to be out six-to-eight weeks.
Where the Falcons go from here regarding their depth at tackle is up for debate. Elijah Wilkinson took the right tackle reps in practice Wednesday after McGary was carted off. He did not play in Friday night's final preseason game in Dallas. Falcons rookie Jack Nelson took the left tackle reps, while Brandon Parker slotted in at right tackle.
"Elijah has played a lot of football in the National Football League," Morris said when asked about holding Wilkinson out Friday. "He's played a lot for us. He's been here with us throughout the course of the last year, throughout the course of this year, and we are fired up to get those guys out there and watch those guys play and compete to see who's going to be able to go out there vs. Tampa."
