Joe Hawley and Lamar Holmes out for season with injuries
The Atlanta Falcons have had their share of injury issues over the past two seasons, but that just escalated today when the team announced that starting center Joe Hawley and starting right tackle Lamar Holmes would both be out for the remainder of the season due to injuries:
The Falcons have placed Joe Hawley (knee) and Lamar Holmes (foot) are being placed on IR today.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 30, 2014
This is obviously awful news to have at any point in the season, let alone before we’ve reached the fifth game. Now, three-fifths of the planned offensive line is out with injuries. Scott Carasik puts this in perspective:
Falcons starting OL preseason:
— 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒌 🐦⬛🏈🇬🇪🇺🇦🇱🇻 (@CarasikS) September 30, 2014
Baker-Blalock-Hawley-Asamoah-Matthews
Falcons starting OL now:
Matthews-Gunn-Konz-Asamoah-Carimi
In the wake of these injuries, the Falcons have promoted two players from the practice squad and signed free agent offensive tackle Cameron Bradfield:
#Falcons sign FA OT Cameron Bradfield, last with JAX. Elevate G Harland Gunn and S Sean Baker from practice squad.
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) September 30, 2014
In addition to the injuries on the offensive line, the Falcons also announced that starting safety William Moore was put on the IR, but is expected to return at some point. You can read more about that injury here.
In the meantime, the offensive line is crumbling around Matt Ryan just as the team is preparing to take on a 2-2 New York Giants squad which is tied for ninth in the league with nine sacks.