Tag: Drew Dalman

Saints vs. Falcons could be a battle of battered offensive lines

The Saints and Falcons’ starting centers are both on IR, and each team had another starting lineman miss Wednesday’s practice:

The New Orleans Saints enter the game versus the Atlanta Falcons with big -time health questions on the offensive line. They aren’t alone, either. The Falcons listed just one player on their injury report for Wednesday, but it was right tackle Kaleb McGary.

McGary did not participate at all on Wednesday. Their center Drew Dalman wasn’t listed on the injury report because he’s on injured reserve. Just like New Orleans, Atlanta is in danger of being down two starting offensive linemen in Week 4.

The Saints know Erik McCoy is out for an extended amount of time. Cesar Ruiz and Landon Young also made appearances on the injury report and their future is uncertain. Young was limited with a foot injury, and a knee injury kept Ruiz out of practice altogether.

Ruiz’s importance becomes elevated due to McCoy’s absence. You can’t have two interior offensive linemen miss a game and be confident you’ll still be strong up front.

Pressure through the middle compromises everything this offense wants to do, but the same is true for Atlanta. Both teams know they’ll be without their center and could be without a starter on the right side. This game could easily come down to who gets the best health news, and who can take advantage of their opponent’s missing players.

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Saints have a better record at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium than the Falcons

Atlanta spent a lot of money building Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the Saints have a better record there than the Falcons do on their own home turf:

Atlanta spent a lot of money building Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Atlanta Falcons to play their home games, but it’s their rivals who have a better record there. Since the venue opened for the 2017 season, the New Orleans Saints have gone 5-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — a stunning win percentage of .714.

Those Saints victories included a 43-37 thriller in overtime in 2018 and a Thanksgiving Day rout in 2019. Last season’s loss was their first since the arena’s inaugural season.

Now compare it to the Falcons’ home record, which is one of the NFL’s worst since 2017: 27-32. That’s a win percentage of just .457. Only eight teams have won fewer home games since Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened its doors.

The next chapter in this long-running rivalry will be written on Sunday, when the Saints and Falcons kick off in Week 4. They’re both looking to keep pace in the NFC South title race but each team is dealing with similar troubles. Offensive line injuries have struck New Orleans (Erik McCoy is having sports hernia surgery, sidelining him for six to eight weeks) as well as Atlanta (the Falcons already put Drew Dalman on injured reserve and Kaleb McGary could be next). Whoever has the next man up playing well just might win the day.

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Falcons place starting center Drew Dalman on IR, sign veteran OL

Falcons place starting center Drew Dalman on injured reserve, sign veteran offensive lineman to 53-man roster

The Atlanta Falcons lost two starting offensive linemen during Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Right tackle Kaleb McGary and center Drew Dalman were injured in the first half and did not return in Week 3. On Tuesday, the team placed Dalman on the injured reserve list with a high-ankle sprain.

Dalman must miss the next four games at a minimum before he can return, which means the Falcons will be turning to backup Ryan Neuzil. The team signed offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson in a corresponding transaction on Tuesday.

Wilkinson previously played for Atlanta in 2022, starting nine games. The veteran offensive lineman has 45 career starts under his belt. Last season, Wilkinson started nine games for the Arizona Cardinals. With McGary potentially out, Wilkinson gives the team a little more depth along the offensive line with experience playing both tackle and guard.

The Falcons also signed former third-round pick Matt Hennessy to the practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday. Check out Atlanta’s updated 53-man roster and practice squad entering Sunday’s NFC South showdown against the Saints.

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Falcons may be without starting OL Kaleb McGary, Drew Dalman vs. Saints

The Falcons could be without starting right tackle Kaleb McGary and center Drew Dalman for their Week 4 matchup with the Saints:

A couple of key Atlanta Falcons offensive linemen could miss Week 4’s game with the New Orleans Saints. Right tackle Kaleb McGary went down in Week 3’s matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs with what is believed to  be  a sprained MCL, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The severity of that knee injury is to be determined, but McGary’s status for next week’s game against the Saints is very much in doubt.

That’s also true of Falcons center Drew Dalman, who Rapoport reports is going to miss some time with a high-ankle sprain. So that’s two starters down from an offensive line tasked with protecting Kirk Cousins, one of the least-mobile quarterbacks in the NFL this year. Who could replace them?

Backup tackle Elijah Wilkinson filled in for McGary on the right side in Sunday night’s loss, however McGary is a premier player and will most definitely be missed if he ends up sitting out on a few games. So far this season he only allowed one sack and five pressures with no penalties against him, which is pretty impressive given he played against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles.

As for the center? It was Ryan Neuzil stepping in for Dalman. The fourth-year pro has only started four games at the NFL level, so that could be a matchup Bryan Bresee and the Saints’ interior rotation can take advantage of. The Falcons will be hoping to lean on Bijan Robinson just like the Eagles relied on Saquon Barkley against thee Saints, so it’s vital that Dennis Allen’s defensive line win their battles up front, no matter who is in front of them.

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19 Falcons players slated to become free agents in 2025

19 Falcons players, including CB A.J. Terrell and center Drew Dalman, are slated to become free agents in 2025

The bulk of the 2024 NFL offseason has passed and there isn’t much left to do other than potentially sign more free agents. The Atlanta Falcons would have to create additional salary cap space to make any significant moves at this point.

While another major signing doesn’t seem likely, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to next year. The Falcons didn’t lose any big names in free agency (aside from Calais Cambell), but that could change in 2025 when several players are slated to hit the open market.

Cornerback A.J. Terrell and center Drew Dalman are among those who could be entering their final season in Atlanta. Here’s a look at each of the 19 Falcons players set to become free agents in 2025:

Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams, Drew Dalman out again

Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams and center Drew Dalman are OUT again on Thursday

The Atlanta Falcons are practicing without center Drew Dalman and safety DeMarcco Hellams for a second straight day, according to team reporter Terrin Waack. Dalman is battling an ankle injury and Hellams is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

If Dalman can’t play this weekend, it will be Ryan Neuzil suiting up for the Falcons in Week 18.

Cornerback Mike Hughes, who is also in the concussion protocol, returned to practice on Thursday. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell and running back Cordarrelle Patterson also returned after getting a rest day on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke‘s Week 18 status is still up in the air, but he practiced for a second straight day on Thursday. Stay tuned for the team’s full injury report later this afternoon.

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Falcons center Drew Dalman misses Wednesday’s practice

Falcons center Drew Dalman misses Wednesday’s practice

The Atlanta Falcons have begun preparation for their season finale against the New Orleans Saints and a few key players are still banged up. Center Drew Dalman is out Wednesday, while defensive backs DeMarcco Hellams and Mike Hughes are in the concussion protocol.

On the bright side, Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke hopes to play this weekend. Heinicke was limited on Wednesday due to an ankle injury, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

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Falcons rule out center Drew Dalman, CB Jeff Okudah for Week 14

The Falcons have ruled out center Drew Dalman and cornerback Jeff Okudah for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers

The Atlanta Falcons will be a bit shorthanded when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14. Five starters won’t be suiting up for Sunday’s NFC South matchup.

Center Drew Dalman and cornerback Jeff Okudah are officially out, according to the team’s inactives list. The Falcons previously ruled out linebacker Nate Landman, defensive lineman David Onyemata and right tackle Kaleb McGary.

With Okudah out, look for rookie Clark Phillips III and veteran Tre Flowers to get more playing time on Sunday. Filling in for Dalman will likely be backup Ryan Neuzil.

Sunday’s game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Check out the team’s updated 53-man roster, injury report and depth chart heading into Week 14.

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Falcons release inactives list for Week 14 game vs. Buccaneers

The Falcons have released their inactives list for Sunday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Atlanta Falcons (6-6) have released their inactives list for Sunday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7). Five starters have been ruled out, including center Drew Dalman, cornerback Jeff Okudah and defensive lineman David Onyemata.

Cornerback A.J. Terrell is good to go after suffering a concussion in Week 13. Check out the Falcons’ full inactives list for Week 14 below.

PFF: Chris Lindstrom, Drew Dalman were top-rated Falcons in Week 11

PFF: Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom (95.5) and center Drew Dalman (86.4) earned the team’s highest grades in Week 11

The Atlanta Falcons scratched and clawed their way to a 27-24 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 11, and just as many expected, Sunday’s game was won in the trenches.

The Falcons offense didn’t allow a single sack, while the defense brought down Bears QB Justin Fields four times on Sunday. It was an encouraging performance, especially for Atlanta’s offensive line. Pro Football Focus released its Week 11 grades and four offensive linemen finished in the top five.

Right guard Chris Lindstrom (95.5) and center Drew Dalman (86.4) earned the team’s highest overall grades. Here are PFF’s 20 highest-rated Falcons from Week 11.