Falcons lose key starter right before playoff game
It was a gamble that didn’t pay off for the Atlanta Falcons, and arguably at the worst possible time.
The Falcons announced Tuesday they have placed guard Andy Levitre on injured reserve with a torn tricep, just days ahead of the team’s playoff opener Saturday in Los Angeles against the Rams.
Levitre originally suffered the injury Dec. 3 in a loss to Minnesota and missed Atlanta’s next three games.
He returned in Sunday’s season finale against Carolina but lasted just five plays before having to leave the game.
TRANSACTION: We have placed OL Andy Levitre on IR and have signed RB Terrence Magee to the active roster. pic.twitter.com/RizmXbCeFg
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 2, 2018
“He really tried to put forth the effort to see if he could go [against the Panthers],” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday.
“He had a good week of practice and thought it would be good,” Quinn added. “He went through some plays and he went through the game, he wasn’t able to function like he can. We are bummed for him, but we appreciate how hard he strained to try to get back.”
Levitre is a nine-year veteran. He joined the Falcons in 2015 after stints in Buffalo (2009-12) and Tennessee (2013-14). He has started each of the 141 games he has played in his NFL career.
Losing an experienced offensive lineman on the eve of the playoffs is never ideal, especially with Atlanta facing the aggressive young defense of the Rams, which finished second in the NFC with 48 quarterbacks sacks this season.
Atlanta allowed only 24 sacks this season, second fewest in the NFC.
Ben Garland will replace Levitre in the starting lineup Saturday. He also filled in for the games Levitre missed in December and played most of Sunday’s game against Carolina.
Garland isn’t considered a significant step back in quality. In fact, he’s been Atlanta’s top-rated offensive player by Pro Football Focus multiple times this season.
To fill the roster spot created by Levitre’s move to IR, the team signed running back Terrance McGee.
The Falcons are hoping to return to the Super Bowl after last season’s devastating loss to New England, but history isn’t on the Falcons’ side. Since 1994, no team that has lost the Super Bowl has reached it the following year.
Atlanta’s offense hasn’t been nearly as explosive this season as it was a year ago.
The Falcons scored 187 fewer points than last year’s Super Bowl squad. A year ago, the Falcons ranked third in the NFL in passing; this year they were eighth.
This year’s squad also committed 18 turnovers, compared with just 11 a year ago.
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