The Falcons lost Troy Andersen to a shoulder injury during the Lions contest, and the prospect of it doesn’t look great.
According to Arthur Smith via Michael Rothstein of ESPN, the club fears the second-round pick could be done for the year. He did note that nothing is final yet, but the stoic head coach doesn’t usually divulge injuries.
This is a brutal loss for the Falcons. Not only did they spend a second-round pick on Andersen, but he was also trending in the right direction. The biggest thing with him was the mental side of the game, which only improves through experience.
Thankfully, the Falcons do have a capable backup in Nate Landman.
Admittedly, I had no confidence in Landman when he got the start last week against the Packers as Andersen nursed a concussion. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Landman did more than hold his own. He was an impact player for the Falcons defense, especially in the run game. Now, the undrafted free agent will likely garner the rest of the starts. All eyes will be on him this week and the rest of the season.
This is his opportunity to prove that his Week 2 performance wasn’t a fluke. This is his chance to establish himself as a starter in this league. The Falcons defense has been among the stingiest in the league; hopefully, that trend continues with Nate Landman replacing Troy Andersen.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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