Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The training camp curse that seems to have befallen many teams this preseason finally made its way…in an ugly way…to the Atlanta Falcons camp earlier this week. Mike Johnson left camp via ambulance, and it was later revealed that he’d dislocated his left ankle and suffered a broken leg as well.
The natural reaction is, of course, to look to Lamar Holmes to step up and step in for Johnson. In the Friday Night Lights event, however, neither Johnson nor Holmes was particularly impressive. Was that a fluke? Only maybe. Once again, the regrets pour in over the release of Tyson Clabo. He’s missed now more than ever, all things considered.
In the wake of Johnson’s season-ending injuries, the Falcons placed him on injured reserve and signed offensive tackle Jeff Nady. Nady originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this year, but was waived on May 15. What this unknown can do for the Falcons remains to be seen.
Even with Holmes and Ryan Schraeder, the depth of position continues to be thin; having Nady in the lineup at this point can only help. Is Holmes the favorite to win out? Yes, but only at this point. I look for Schraeder to get some valuable preseason time in the next game, and Nady’s time on the field is coming as well.
This isn’t the battle any Falcons fan expected to see at right tackle, but the results will speak for themselves. The remainder of the preseason will determine the outcome of this story.
Leigh Allen is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter, on Facebook, and on Google.
