Tag: Kaleb McGary

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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Falcons list one player, Saints list nine on Wednesday injury report

Falcons list one player on Wednesday injury report while Saints list nine players, including RB Alvin Kamara…

The Atlanta Falcons suffered two injuries during Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with both right tackle Kaleb McGary and center Drew Dalman exiting the game in the first half. The team placed Dalman on the injured reserve list with a high-ankle sprain but he can return after four weeks.

As for McGary, the former first-round pick is still on the active roster despite sustaining a knee injury in Week 3. However, McGary did not participate in Wednesday’s practice and his status for Week 4 is up in the air.

Overall, the Falcons are in much better shape than the New Orleans Saints entering this weekend’s NFC South showdown. On Wednesday’s injury report, Atlanta only listed McGary while New Orleans listed nine players, including running back Alvin Kamara.

Four Saints players did not participate and three others were limited. Quarterback Derek Carr (groin) was a full participant. Check out the full Wednesday injury report for both teams below:

Falcons Week 4 injury report

Player Injury Wed Thu Fri Status
Kaleb McGary Knee DNP

Saints Week 4 injury report

Player Injury Wed Thu Fri Status
Alvin Kamara Hip/Ribs DNP
Cesar Ruiz Knee DNP
Demario Davis Hamstring DNP
Alontae Taylor Illness DNP
Landon Young Foot LP
Khalen Saunders Calf LP
D’Marco Jackson Calf LP
Taysom Hill Chest FP
Derek Carr Groin FP

The Falcons signed offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson off the practice squad to replace Dalman on Tuesday and later signed former third-round pick Matt Hennessy to fill the last practice squad opening. Hennessy started 17 games for the team in 2021.

Atlanta made some changes to the offensive and defensive lines on the team’s Week 4 depth chart. Ryan Neuzil was listed as the starting center in place of Dalman.

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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 injury news: Two starting offensive linemen could miss time

Two starting Falcons offensive linemen were injured during Sunday night’s game and it sounds like both could miss some time

The Atlanta Falcons were defeated in their Sunday night matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs and lost two starting offensive linemen in the process. Right tackle Kaleb McGary went down with a knee injury before center Drew Dalman left the game after injuring his ankle in the second quarter.

Neither player returned on Sunday and according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Falcons could be without both players for a little while. McGary is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain but will have an MRI to confirm. Rapoport said Dalman has a high-ankle sprain but also needs an MRI.

It sounds like both players will be out a few weeks at a minimum but have a chance to return this season. Dalman could land on the injured reserve list with a return designation. McGary’s status is a little more uncertain but we’ll have to wait and see what the team says.

The Falcons have stayed relatively healthy through the first three weeks of the season but last night’s injuries proved costly.  The team was in position to upset the favored Chiefs on national television but couldn’t convert on two key fourth-down attempts in the fourth quarter.

Kansas City’s defensive line was too much to overcome and Atlanta simply couldn’t block the Chiefs for much of the game. Bijan Robinson had a quiet day as there was little running room. However, the Falcons offense got off to a promising start and seems to be trending in the right direction.

Hopefully, this setback along the offensive line doesn’t hurt the team too much. Storm Norton will be the starter at right tackle and Ryan Neuzil will take over at center until McGary and Dalman return.

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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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Falcons lose two starting offensive linemen in first half vs. Chiefs

Falcons lose two starting offensive linemen to injuries in the first half vs. Chiefs

Things were going about as well as they could go for the Falcons in the first half against the Chiefs, but that was before the team suffered two potentially major injuries. Starting right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee) and center Drew Dalman (ankle) both exited Sunday night’s game in the first half.

McGary has been replaced by Storm Norton and Ryan Neuzil is in for Dalman. With both players out, the Falcons struggled to block Kansas City’s defensive line and Kirk Cousins turned the ball over late in the first half. McGary and Dalman have since been ruled out for the game, so Cousins better hang on.

The Falcons hold a 14-13 lead over the Chiefs at halftime of Sunday night’s prime-time matchup. We’ll update the story with injury information as it becomes available.

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Falcons OT Kaleb McGary active for Week 17 game vs. Bears

Falcons OT Kaleb McGary active for Week 17 game vs. Bears

The Atlanta Falcons have listed right tackle Kaleb McGary as active for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. McGary, who missed the previous three games for Atlanta due to a knee injury, was questionable on the team’s injury report.

While reserve lineman Storm Norton played well in McGary’s absence, the team is lucky to get its starting right tackle back in time for Week 17.

As for the Bears, they won’t have running back D’Onta Foreman or wide receiver Darnell Mooney for Sunday’s game. Tight end Cole Kmet is officially active.

Week 17 kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

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Falcons list inactives for Week 17 matchup vs. Bears

The Falcons have listed their inactives for Sunday’s Week 17 matchup against the Bears

The Atlanta Falcons (7-8) have listed their inactives for Sunday’s Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears (6-9) and right tackle Kaleb McGary is officially active.

The former first-round pick had missed the previous three games due to a knee injury. Check out all six of the Falcons’ Week 17 inactives below.

Falcons injury report: Key players return to practice Thursday

Falcons Week 16 injury report: Kaleb McGary, David Onyemata and Cordarrelle Patterson returned to practice on Thursday.

The Atlanta Falcons have released their latest injury report following Thursday’s practice. Some key players, including right tackle Kaleb McGary and defensive lineman David Onyemata, returned after sitting out on Wednesday.

It wasn’t all positive on Thursday, though. Linebacker Bud Dupree (back) and offensive lineman Tyler Vrabel (illness) both sat out. Running back Cordarrelle Patterson and defensive lineman Calais Campbell also returned following a rest day on Wednesday.

Check out the team’s updated injury report from Thursday’s practice below.

Player Injury WED THU FRI Status
Calais Campbell Rest DNP LP FP    —
Cordarrelle Patterson Rest DNP   —   —    —
David Onyemata Ankle DNP LP LP QUEST.
Kaleb McGary Knee DNP LP LP QUEST.
Chris Lindstrom Ankle LP LP FP    —
Drew Dalman Ankle LP LP FP    —
Jake Matthews Knee LP LP FP QUEST
Keith Smith Ankle FP FP FP DOUBT.
Bud Dupree Back  — DNP   QUEST.
Bradley Pinion Personal  — DNP DNP   —

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Falcons OL Kaleb McGary, DL David Onyemata out Wednesday

Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary and defensive lineman David Onyemata are OUT Wednesday

The Atlanta Falcons will be without two key linemen when they resume practice on Wednesday afternoon. According to head coach Arthur Smith, right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee) and defensive tackle David Onyemata (ankle) are out again after missing Sunday’s game.

On the bright side, center Drew Dalman, linebacker Bud Dupree and guard Chris Lindstrom are expected to practice this week, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.

Make sure to check back this afternoon for the team’s first official injury report of Week 16. The Falcons take on the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

In other news, Taylor Heinicke will replace Desmond Ridder as the team’s starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, Smith confirmed on Wednesday (as you can see below, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein).

Check out the team’s updated depth chart and 53-man roster heading into Week 16.

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