Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary will miss “significant time” with a lower leg injury and could wind up on injured reserve, coach Raheem Morris told reporters Friday.
McGary was hurt before practice started Wednesday. He was carted off the field and then appeared to favor his left leg as he was assisted into the building by a trainer.
“The thing I will say to you now is that he will miss significant time,” Morris said Friday after the Falcons’ 31-13 preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington. “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.”
Ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s deadline to cut the roster to 53 players, Atlanta can put up to two players on IR with the designation to return.
Should McGary go on IR, he will be required to miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
The injury comes just over two weeks after McGary signed a two-year, $30 million contract extension.
McGary, 30, is expected to serve as the blindside protector for the left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound McGary has started 92 of his 93 games since being selected by the Falcons with the 31st overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Washington.
Top backup Storm Norton underwent ankle surgery Tuesday, with recovery time expected to be around two months.
Elijah Wilkinson, Brandon Parker and rookie Jack Nelson are candidates to step in for McGary should he sit out any length of time.
–Field Level Media
