It’s been a week since Atlanta Falcons starting right tackle Kaleb McGary was taken off the field due to injury during one of the team’s final preseason practices. Around the same time, backup tackle Storm Norton underwent ankle surgery. With the roster set and practice squads established, head coach Raheem Morris outlined how the team will address the vacancy at right tackle.
McGary has been placed on injured reserve and is out for the season. Norton is also on injured reserve but could return after the team’s Week 5 bye.
Morris indicated that in the short term, the Falcons plan to rely on players already on their roster. Elijah Wilkinson, who has played multiple positions along the offensive line during preseason games, appears to be leading for the starting right tackle spot.
Morris said others are also being considered. Rookie Jack Nelson and free-agent signing Brandon Parker are among those mentioned. Nelson and Wilkinson are currently on the active roster, while Parker is part of 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).”
The Falcons have also made moves to add depth from outside. The team traded a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick to acquire Michael Jerrell from Seattle; Jerrell started three games for Seattle last year. Additionally, Carter Warren and Ryan Hayes have joined Parker on Atlanta’s practice squad. Warren brings experience from his time with the New York Jets, where he played in 14 games and started six between 2023-24.
According to Morris, these new additions will need time before they’re ready to contribute significantly: “It would be unrealistic for me to tell you that they’ll be ready to play Week 1,” he said about Jerrell, Warren, and Hayes. “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.”
Another option under consideration involves moving starting left guard Matthew Bergeron over to right tackle and filling his original position with another player like Kyle Hinton. Morris noted this as an emergency option: “He is one of those guys who can do anything for us,” he said regarding Bergeron.
For now, however, Wilkinson remains poised as the primary choice at right tackle.
“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.”
