Bad news is not what fans hope for after a concerning-looking injury, but unfortunately that’s what they got this time. Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed on Saturday that right tackle Kaleb McGary has a serious leg injury and will miss “significant” time, potentially starting the season on injured reserve.
On Wednesday, McGary was carted off the Falcons’ practice field with a left lower leg injury. Morris didn’t have any further updates on the specifics of the injury, other than to say McGary will get an MRI to determine the full extent of the damage. Regardless, it seems he’ll miss at least the first four games of the season IR, and his absence could extend longer.
Kaleb McGary’s Injury a Major Blow to Falcons’ Offensive Line
Stacy Revere/GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 22: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons participates in warmups prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
McGary is arguably the Falcons’ best offensive lineman. The depth options behind him leave something to be desired, but at least there’s experience there. Elijah Wilkinson has played both guard and tackle in his career, and he replaced McGary at practice on Wednesday. His was the first name that Morris brought up when discussing their options behind McGary, with the veteran providing some stability. Brandon Parker and Jack Nelson are also options.
On top of that, starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is left-handed, meaning the Falcons’ right tackle is protecting his blindside. This only heightens the importance of the position. To that point, Morris discussed moving left tackle Jake Matthews over to the right side, putting their best healthy tackle on Penix’s blind side. This could certainly help, if Matthews is able to be as good on the other side of the line — that’s not a guarantee.
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Has a Big Year Upcoming
The No. 8 overall pick in 2024, Penix was a surprise selection by the Falcons. He was widely regarded as a first-round talent, but the top 10 was a little richer than he was typically mocked, and Atlanta wasn’t supposed to be in the market for a quarterback. Just six weeks prior, they signed former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins to a massive four-year, $180-million contract to be their new starter. The Falcons had struggled for years with a revolving door of subpar quarterbacks after Matt Ryan departed, and Cousins was supposed to fix that.
However, Atlanta must have seen something they liked with Penix. When he was drafted, Cousins was labeled the present, and Penix the future. When Cousins struggled down the stretch of the season, the future became the present, and Penix got a few starts to close the year. He showed some promise, enough for him to enter 2025 as the presumptive starter.
Cousins is still on the roster, but he’s the clear backup. If Penix struggles, however, the Falcons could reconsider that arrangement. The loss of McGary is a major blow to their offense, but this is still a solid offensive line and Penix has weapons around him, particularly RB Bijan Robinson and WR Drake London. This is his chance to establish himself in the league.
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