The Falcoholic
The Atlanta Falcons have a preseason finale looming, and chances are we won’t see many starters, if any. Thanks to injuries, we also won’t see some roster hopefuls.
In remarks to media Monday, Raheem Morris outlined several injuries that are impacting the roster at this point, some of which seem to be no big deal and others which might be a very big deal indeed. Let’s walk through them.
The team’s presumed punt returner and other kick returner option is dealing with what’s being called an oblique injury setback. Morris said the team hopes to have him back in two weeks, which would put him on track for the season opener, but it sounds like that’s not a given.
If Agnew can’t go, it’s not likely to change the roster calculus all that much, especially if he’s truly only in danger of missing a week or two. Dee Alford, Clark Phillips, and Mike Hughes have all handled punt returns for the team in the past, and Carlos Washington was a fairly seasoned kick returner in college if he’s still in the lead for RB3 duties. The kick return options likely to make the team are less proven, but Natrone Brooks either as the final cornerback or a practice squad elevation would make a ton of sense, given that he’s done well on returns in preseason. Ray-Ray McCloud will handle the other kickoff returner spot regardless.
The hope is that Agnew is back, but given his recent injury history, the Falcons will play it safe with him. If it turns into a long-term ailment, we’ll see how the team addresses the vacuum that would leave.
The Falcons are slow-rolling Walker, who has suffered multiple tweaks this summer. There’s no chance he’s going to play in the preseason finale—my words, not Morris’s—but may be getting back to practicing on Wednesday.
Wisely, the Falcons are prioritizing having Walker out there Week 1, and Morris is making a show of not being particularly concerned he won’t be. Given that we’re almost three weeks away from the season opener, that’s probably fair, but we’ll be watching this one.
He has yet to play in preseason and will not do so at all. That’s not really a concern for the veteran swing tackle, but the fact that he’s been hurt for weeks now is in fact a concern.
We’ll be waiting to learn more about Norton’s status until after roster cuts, in all likelihood. If he doesn’t hit injured reserve, the hope will be that the Falcon have simply been cautious and he’ll be available Week 1. If there’s any doubt about that, the Falcons will have to decide if rookie Jack Nelson or veterans Brandon Parker and Elijah Wilkinson make more sense as fourth tackles and/or practice squad elevations; hopefully the Falcons won’t need any of them regardless. A long-term ailment would mean the Falcons need to shop around for more proven swing tackles, as none...
