The Falcons got some real positive vibes from their injury report on Thursday, with veteran left tackle Jake Matthews making his return to practice. This is huge, especially after he was completely out of Wednesday’s walkthrough with that groin injury he picked up on Monday night. Matthews was a limited participant today, but seeing him back on the field at all is a massive relief for the offensive line.
Matthews’ Return and O-Line Stakes
Matthews’ absence on Wednesday was a stomach punch, especially with that groin issue sidelining him from the Monday night game. He’s a cornerstone, and having him even as a limited participant today speaks volumes about his push to get back. This O-line needs all hands on deck, especially with a Sunday night showdown against the Ravens looming. His status tomorrow will be the one everyone’s watching, because a healthy Matthews means everything for protecting the pocket and opening up lanes.
New Faces on the Injury Report
It wasn’t all good news though. Two new names popped up on the injury report today, and neither is what you want to see. Linebacker Divine Deablo and defensive end Samson Ebukam were both added to the list, both limited with hamstring injuries. Losing those guys or having them at less than 100% is a real blow to the defense, which needs to be sharp against a tough Ravens offense. You never want to see those hamstring tweaks, especially this close to game day.
Shifting Statuses and Remaining Concerns
Elsewhere on the injury front, some guys are making progress, while others are still stuck. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith is still sidelined, remaining out of practice with his concussion and neck issues, which is a big concern for the pass rush. On the brighter side, offensive lineman Michael Jerrell (ankle) and defensive end Cameron Thomas (shoulder) both progressed to full participation after starting the week in the limited category. That’s a positive sign for depth, but the major question marks around Smith, Deablo, and Ebukam are definitely keeping us on edge.
The Falcons have a lot to sort out before Sunday night’s game against the Ravens. The full injury designations drop tomorrow, and that’s when we’ll really know who’s in and who’s out. Fingers crossed for good news, because this team needs to be as close to full strength as possible for that prime-time clash.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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