Kaleb

McGary

The former No. 31 overall pick played in Atlanta for six seasons. He missed the 2025 season after suffering an undisclosed leg injury during training camp. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said last month that McGary should be “good to go” for training camp, so it’s unclear if his abrupt retirement is related to the knee issue. McGary made 92 starts for the Falcons over his six seasons and was consistently one of the league’s best run-blocking right tackles.

McGary was lost for the season in a late August practice with what the team never elaborated on but we suspect was either an ACL tear or broken leg based on the time missed. McGary will be 11 months clear of the injury by training camp, so this isn’t a surprising update, but it’s good news that McGary is trending towards a return.

Most players placed on IR are placed on IR-return, but McGary’s knee injury was serious enough that he was placed on the season-ending version of injured reserve. Michael Jerrell, who the Falcons traded for earlier today, could get a chance to fill in at right tackle with both McGary and Storm Norton out. There’s no timetable for McGary’s return at the moment.

Jerrell will likely operate in a swing role for the Falcons, although this deal likely has at least something to do with the health of Kaleb McGary (leg). The 26-year-old was a sixth-round pick by Seattle in 2024.

Things were trending in this direction when McGary’s injury was first reported, but Morris confirmed everyone’s suspicions after Friday’s preseason game against the Cowboys. The veteran tackle signed a two-year, $30 million extension this offseason, and looks like a near lock to open the season on injured reserve. The Falcons will now look to run out their third-string right tackle as Storm Norton (ankle) is also set to miss multiple weeks.

The severity of his leg injury is not yet known, but McGary went down in practice and required an MRI yesterday. With Storm Norton also hurt, the Falcons will be on RT3 at the start of the season at the very least. It’s possible that this is an injury that sends McGary to IR-return, and we wouldn’t rule out that it was a season-ender based on the descriptions.

It feels likely that Norton will grab a PUP or IR listing at final cuts if this estimate holds. The veteran tackle has played in 31 games for the Falcons over the last two seasons, starting four. With Kaleb McGary going down in practice and requiring an MRI today, it is possible the Falcons are playing a third-string right tackle in Week 1.

McGary is entering the final year of a three-year deal he signed in 2023 and will now be under contract with the Falcons through the 2027 season. The veteran right tackle started all 16 games he appeared in for the Falcons last season and earned a PFF offensive grade of 73.8. McGary, who is a right tackle, will be tasked with protecting the blindside of left-handed QB Michael Penix Jr. this season. Last year, he allowed six sacks on 32 pressures.

McGary only missed one game after suffering a knee injury in Week 3. He is good to for forr Atlanta’s matchup with the Bucs. Linebacker Troy Andersen was ruled out with a knee injury of his own.

Injured in Week 3, McGary has at least avoided injured reserve, suggesting he is truly week to week. His absence isn’t the best news for Bijan Robinson, but it’s not a rankings-effecter. Storm Norton is filling in.