Injuries continue to pile up on the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive tackle position, with two weeks until the start of the regular season. Swing tackle Storm Norton has battled an ankle injury over the past few weeks and recently underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday. Norton is expected to miss six to eight weeks, making him a prime injured reserve candidate when the Falcons trim their roster from 90 players to finalize their 53-man roster next Tuesday.
The team is also awaiting the status of their talented run blocker.
Atlanta Falcons’ star RT was carted off the field on Wednesday
Kaleb McGary suffered an apparent lower-leg injury during Wednesday’s practice and was carted off the field. He underwent an MRI to determine the severity, but the Falcons have not provided a real update and were initially waiting for the appropriate time to give the news. Fans held their breath, hoping that McGary, Michael Penix Jr.’s blindside protector and the team’s second-highest rated run-blocking offensive lineman, would not miss the entire season.
Atlanta Falcons’ blindside blocker out indefinitely
During Friday’s postgame press conference, Raheem Morris provided an injury update on Kaleb McGary, as reported by Tori McElhaney of the team’s website. The star right tackle will miss a significant amount of time with no definitive timetable for return as he continues to recover from a lower-leg injury. Morris expects the Falcons to place McGary on injured reserve next Tuesday.
Morris on McGary: “The thing I will say to you now is that he will miss significant time. Looks like it will be IR, whatever the case may be, we will have to see there, but he will miss significant time for us.” https://t.co/4tmuDt8PmV
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 23, 2025
Who replaces him at RT?
The expectation is for Elijah Wilkinson to take over at right tackle with Kaleb McGary sidelined. The versatile 30-year-old offensive lineman has logged over 1,433 snaps on the right side, the most of any position throughout his nine-year career. Wilkinson did not suit up against the Dallas Cowboys, indicating he might get first crack at right tackle in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Raheem Morris recently expressed confidence in him.
Raheem Morris on Elijah Wilkinson: “Elijah has played a lot of football in the National Football League. He’s played a lot for us. He’s been here with us throughout the course of the last year, throughout the course of this year, and we are fired up to get those guys out there…
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 23, 2025
Other in-house candidates include Jack Nelson and Brandon Parker. The Falcons could also acquire an offensive tackle via trade, the waiver wire, or free agency.
