Atlanta Falcons: Placed Offensive Starter on Injured Reserve Ahead of Week 4

The Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line, for the most part, stayed healthy all season long in 2023. Their left tackle and left guard played every game, while their center and right tackle missed three, and their right guard missed one. They had the same starting five offensive line throughout their first three games, but that will change because their center suffered an injury.

The Atlanta Falcons center exited Week 3 with an injury

Underrated center Drew Dalman exited the second quarter with an apparent ankle injury in their 17-22 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He limped off the field with help from the Falcons’ medical staff and didn’t return for the remainder of the game. He underwent tests and an MRI on Monday to determine the severity.

The Atlanta Falcons center will miss at least four weeks

Tests determined that Drew Dalman suffered a high ankle sprain. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Atlanta Falcons have placed Dalman on injured reserve, and he will miss at least the next four weeks. As NFL Trade Rumors points out, the recovery time for a high ankle sprain is anywhere from four-to-six weeks. Not having him in the starting rotation will negatively impact the Falcons offense.

The #Falcons are placing C Drew Dalman on IR with an ankle injury suffered against the #Chiefs. He’ll miss the next four games at minimum.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 24, 2024

Who starts at center?

Ryan Neuzil will take over at center. Neuzil, an undrafted free agent in 2021, enters his fourth year in the NFL. He has played 29 career games with four starts, including three at center in 2023. He played their final 42 snaps of the game.

Kirk Cousins praised Neuzil after the game.

“I thought Ryan [Neuzil] did a phenomenal job at center. There are so many moving parts with the center as far as protection calls, pistol snaps, gun snaps, under center snaps, handling cadence,” Cousins said. “I thought Ryan did a phenomenal job stepping in and handling a lot.”

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