Falcons' Kaleb McGary leg injury tests O-line depth; IR timeline

The Atlanta Falcons suffered a significant setback on the injury front this week when starting right tackle Kaleb McGary was carted off the practice field with a suspected lower-left-leg injury. The team confirmed McGary will undergo an MRI to determine the severity, and head coach Raheem Morris said the initial outlook points to a lengthy absence, with an emphasis on the IR timeline. The injury comes just weeks after McGary signed a two-year, $30 million extension, underscoring how central he had become to Atlanta’s plan to protect quarterback Michael Penix Jr. ahead of the regular season.

McGary’s exit exposed a thin depth chart on the edge. The Falcons already had Storm Norton sidelined by ankle surgery for an estimated six to eight weeks, leaving Elijah Wilkinson to step in at right tackle in Wednesday’s practice. Wilkinson, who has a versatile swing profile and has lined up at guard and left tackle in recent weeks, could remain involved in the competition for Penix’s blind side, or the team could look to reshuffle the line. Brandon Parker and rookie Jack Nelson were listed as backups on the latest depth chart, but Nelson has limited NFL experience and would likely benefit...