Falcons right tackle slot still open

Flowery Branch — Every position on the Falcons’ offense is set for Sunday’s season-opener against Detroit except for right tackle, coach Mike Smith said Thursday.

Todd Weiner is coming back from knee surgery and played sparingly during the exhibition season. Tyson Clabo took most of the snaps at right tackle. He also played some at right guard.

“I think we are going to have to make a determination as we get closer to the game to see how our man Todd’s doing,” Smith said.

Weiner played in eight games with seven starts last season before going on injured reserve on Nov. 29. He’s started 98 of 103 games in the past seven seasons.

“I’m working hard to get everything right and take my opportunities as they come,” Weiner said. “To be honest, I’m really on their schedule from the beginning of this thing. From the beginning of this thing I’ve been kind of told to follow directions as far as rehab. So that’s really where I’m at.”

Clabo, in his third year with the Falcons, has started 21 games at both guard spots and right tackle.

“I’m practicing and preparing like I’m going to be out there,” Clabo said. “Whenever they think we need to know, they’ll tell us.”

He played some guard in the last two exhibition games.

“I felt pretty comfortable in there,” Clabo said. “I played a little guard in there the week before, and I felt a lot better against Baltimore than I did the week before.”

Lewis moves to running part of rehab

Defensive tackle Trey Lewis, who is on the physically unable to perform list while rehabbing from knee surgery, is progressing.

“I’m running now,” Lewis said. “Running and cutting. I just want to get everything back together.”

Lewis can be on the physically unable to perform list for six weeks. Then the Falcons have another three weeks to put him on the active roster. If not, he must go on injured reserve and be out for the year.

“It’s going to be up to them,” Lewis said. “I feel pretty good right now, but they know what’s in my best interests.”

As a rookie last season, Lewis played in nine games before injuring a knee against Tampa Bay. He reinjured the knee in the offseason while walking down steps.

Injury update

Linebacker Coy Wire (left ankle), safety Thomas DeCoud (left ankle) and offensive lineman Alex Stepanovich (back) were the only players listed on the injury report. DeCoud participate in parts of practice.

Falcons honoring high schools

The Falcons and the Georgia Dome will institute a program this year to honor high school football programs in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA). During each home game, a team will be honored with a permanent display of their helmets in the Dome and will be saluted on the scoreboard.

“We want to get as many young football players an opportunity to see NFL football or see football in general,” Smith said. “I think it’s very important that we are working with the youth.”