The Carolina Panthers (1-12) and the Atlanta Falcons (6-7) square off in the NFC South on Sunday. The Falcons will be missing a few key players. Both defensive tackle Kentavius Street (pectoral) and right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee) will be sidelined on Sunday, according to Falcons coach Arthur Smith’s announcement during his news conference on Friday. In lieu of McGary, who was absent from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 29-25 loss on Sunday, Smith stated earlier this week that Storm Norton “continues to play well for us.”
Street hurt himself against the Buccaneers, and Smith is unsure whether he will play again this year. Before this setback, Street was performing well for the Falcons after being acquired via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in October. In his previous two games, he had recorded one sack and two tackles for loss.
Starting on the offensive line, where right guard Chris Lindstrom (ankle), left tackle Jake Matthews (knee), and center Drew Dalman (ankle) are all in wait-and-see mode, Atlanta has a long list of players questionable for Sunday. The Falcons have listed outside linebacker Bud Dupree (back), defensive tackle David Onyemata (ankle), and linebacker Nate Landman (knee) as questionable. LaCale London, a defensive lineman on injured reserve with a knee injury, is also doubtful.
All six of Atlanta’s dubious starters—Lindstrom, Matthews, Dalman, Onyemata, Landman, and Dupree—participated in practice on a limited basis on Friday. Smith voiced optimism about Lindstrom and Matthews’ status throughout the week, maybe as a result of Lindstrom finishing last week’s game on the field and Matthews being ready in case of necessity. With three starters out of the game for the whole of the second half against Tampa Bay, the Falcons’ offensive line got off to a poor start, going four straight three-and-outs before bouncing back with 203 yards over the final three drives in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Neuzil will stand in for Dalman, Kyle Hinton for Lindstrom, and Tyler Vrabel for Matthews, if necessary. Andre Smith Jr., who replaced Landman against the Buccaneers, “did a good job” defensively, according to Smith, and he would start again. If Onyemata is unable to play, there may be more action inside for Ta’Quon Graham, Travis Bell, and Albert Huggins. Lorenzo Carter and Arnold Ebiketie would receive somewhat more snaps as a result of Dupree’s absence, and second-year pro DeAngelo Malone would get the opportunity to play defense for the first time this year.
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