FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Defensive tackle Kentavius Street will not play this weekend as the Atlanta Falcons deal with significant injuries on both lines while battling for control of a jumbled race for the NFC South title — the only legitimate avenue to the playoffs for any team in the NFL’s weakest division this season.
The Falcons (6-7) are on the road Sunday to face the Carolina Panthers (1-12), but Street left last weekend’s 29-25 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a pectoral injury. Atlanta coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday he is awaiting word on Street’s status for the remainder of the season.
The defensive line already has lost two-time Pro Bowl selection Grady Jarrett to a season-ending knee injury. Another key starter on the defensive front, David Onyemata (ankle), did not play against Tampa Bay.
The Falcons’ offensive line is facing a similarly stressful situation after only two healthy starters from that group made it to the end of the loss to the Bucs. Left tackle Jake Matthews exited in the first half with a knee injury, putting his team-record streak of 156 consecutive starts in jeopardy unless he’s able to go this Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Center Drew Dalman (ankle) and right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee) did not play against Tampa Bay, and Chris Lindstrom (ankle) missed part of the game.
Atlanta’s lengthy injury list also includes, on defense, cornerback Jeff Okudah (ankle) and linebacker Nate Landman (knee).
Lindstrom, Matthews and McGary were held out of Wednesday’s practice. Smith said most of the injured players have a chance to play at Carolina.
“That’s where we are this late in the year,” the third-year head coach said of the lengthy injury list. “And thankfully, most of the guys have a legitimate shot to play.”
Smith said he expects to “have a clear picture by Friday, for sure.”
The Falcons failed to capitalize on an opportunity to retain sole possession of first place in the division. With the loss to Tampa Bay, Atlanta is tied with the Bucs and the New Orleans Saints for the division lead. Each member of the first-place trio has a 6-7 overall record, but the Bucs and the Falcons — who split their season series — are 3-1 in division play and the Saints are 2-2 and will close with back-to-back games against Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
A loss by Atlanta to the last-place Panthers, who were the NFL’s first team this season eliminated from contention for a playoff spot, could be devastating to the Falcons’ hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season, which was also their most recent winning campaign.
Atlanta beat Carolina 24-10 on Sept. 10 in the season opener for both. The teams split their season series the past three years.
Smith and quarterback Desmond Ridder were encouraged by the play of backups on the depleted offensive line last weekend.
Center Ryan Neuzil made the second start of his NFL career, right tackle Storm Norton made his first start of the season and tackle Tyler Vrabel, the son of Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, appeared in his first NFL game one day after being promoted from the practice squad.
“Credit to all those guys in that room, because they work their butts off no matter where they started at the beginning of this year to where they are now,” Ridder said Wednesday. “They’re a testament to the hard work that they put in because, you know, it was like a smooth transition. They kept me clean and did a good job.”
Ridder completed 26 of 40 passes for a career-best 347 yards with one touchdown and an interception, and he had a 6-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. He was sacked three times, but the losses amounted to less than 10 yards.
Titans hurting, too
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans placed a pair of defensive starters on injured reserve Wednesday.
Tennessee cornerback Kristian Fulton hurt his hamstring late in an overtime loss against the visiting Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 3. He started 11 of 13 games this season for the Titans and 37 of his 42 games played since being a second-round draft pick out of LSU in 2020. Fulton has four career interceptions and ranked ninth in tackles for Tennessee this season.
Defensive lineman Kyle Peko started 10 of his 13 games before sustaining a calf injury Monday night, when the Titans rallied to beat the Miami Dolphins 28-27 and win a game outside of Nashville for the first since November 2022. He will be a free agent after this season.
Coach Mike Vrabel called the injuries unfortunate.
“I know he’s disappointed,” Vrabel said of Fulton, “and we’re disappointed for him, just like Peko. I mean, these guys put a lot into it, and they play hard.”
The Titans filled their roster spots by signing a pair of defensive linemen off the practice squads of other teams, picking up Quinton Bohanna (Detroit Lions) and Keondre Coburn (Kansas City Chiefs).
In addition to losing Fulton and Peko, two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is expected to be out Sunday as Tennessee (5-8) hosts the Houston Texans (7-6).