The Falcons are 3-9, but if you’re looking for a reason to plop down on your chair this Sunday and suffer through another week, today’s news gives you a pretty reasonable one. Chris Lindstrom, the first pick of the team’s 2019 draft class, will return for the first time since suffering a fractured foot in Week 1 against the Vikings. He is going to start at right guard, giving us our first real glimpse of where this offensive line could be heading into 2020.
Dan Quinn said rookie right guard Chris Lindstrom, who returned to practice off broken foot, will be activated
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) December 6, 2019
It goes without saying why this is so promising. The last time we saw Atlanta’s offensive line they were surrendering nine sacks to the New Orleans Saints, including three on the final drive with a chance to tie the game. Kaleb McGary has performed admirably at times, even though he struggled on Thanksgiving, but the two guards brought in this offseason – Jamon Brown and James Carpenter – have not been the answer. Both might not even be around for the second year of their contracts.
Mcclure also reported to expect for Matt Gono to see some action at right guard as well. Lindstrom, while starting, will not play the entire game. Gono, an undrafted free agent, showed tons of promise at tackle in the preseason, which led to him making the 53-man roster. Considering the number of injuries and poor play across the offensive line, I’m a bit surprised that it took this long for him to see the field. Hopefully, he can show that he can be an answer to some of the Falcons problems on the line, as we look towards next season.
In more positive injury news, Atlanta will also have Julio Jones, and Austin Hooper activated for this game. Jones missed Thursday’s contest against the Saints after injuring his shoulder the week before. Hooper hasn’t played in a month, missing the last three games with an MCL sprain. It’s notable because, along with Lindstrom, this will be the first look we’ve had at the offense at full strength since Week 1. That should be reason enough for you to waste three more hours on your Sunday watching these Falcons