Falcons rookie Sam Baker facing back surgery

Flowery Branch — Falcons left tackle Sam Baker will have a discectomy, a surgical procedure on herniated disc material in his lower back in an attempt to relieve the pain in his hip. The surgery is scheduled for Thursday in California.

In the wake of Baker’s injury, the Falcons re-signed 14-year veteran Wayne Gandy, who began last season as their starting left tackle. He started four games before tearing the ACL in his left knee, an injury that ended his season.

Baker’s injury was announced as a hip problem when he was injured last Wednesday. He tried to play Sunday against Philadelphia but was a pregame scratch.

“The hip area is where the pain was,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “After we treated it aggressively and got a second opinion, we found out it’s connected [to the lower back].”

Baker saw specialists in New York and then flew to California on Wednesday to have his hip and lower back examined by more specialists.

“We sent him out to get a second opinion. The two [specialists] that he saw confirmed [the injury],” Smith said.

Smith said the team has no timetable for Baker’s recovery or whether the surgery could lead to Baker being placed on injured reserve and missing the remainder of the season.

“I think after the procedure, I think we’ll have a better idea of that,” Smith said.

Former Falcons running back Warrick Dunn, now with Tampa Bay, had a similar procedure in July to repair a herniated disc. He returned to practice about three weeks after the surgery after doctors had told him he would need a month to recover.

Baker, a first-round draft pick chosen 21st overall in the 2008 draft, opened the season as the starting left tackle. He’ll be replaced Sunday by Todd Weiner, who didn’t practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.

Quinn Ojinnaka and Gandy will back up Weiner.

“Wayne has some familiarity with our verbiage and scheme because of his background in Pittsburgh [where he played for Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey],” Smith said. “We will try to get him up to speed as quickly as we can.”

Baker was a big part of the Falcons’ run offense, which ranks third in the league (150.3 yards per game).

“It’s a big loss,” wide receiver Roddy White said. “It hurts us. It’s a setback for us.”

Gandy, who was released by the Falcons in the offseason, said he’s glad to be back.

“It’s been a long journey back with the ACL,” he said. “Like any football season at some point, a team will need somebody to come in and fill in for a couple of plays.

“Hopefully I can get through a couple of practices and get my wind back. Whatever coach needs, hopefully I can provide.”

Gandy probably needs a week to shake off the rust.

“Wayne’s a smart guy,” center Todd McClure said. “If he had to go in, me and [Justin] Blalock, between us, we can get him on the right guy. Once he knows who he’s got, he’s going to take care of business.”

Injury update

Defensive end Jamaal Anderson, who suffered a concussion against Philadelphia, was not cleared to practice. “They are still waiting,” he said. “I hope to be out there [today].”