Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews sustained a left knee sprain late in the second quarter and did not return in the 29-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Matthews’ knee was examined behind the team’s bench by the team doctor. After the exam, a sleeve was removed from the knee and Matthews tested the knee out by running on the sideline.
They put the sleeve back on and he ran around some more before being taken into the locker room right before halftime.
“It was a sprain for him and we’ll have more information for you tomorrow,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “He was not able to return today. He was certainly trying to so hopefully it won’t be a long-term issue with him.”
Matthews was replaced in the lineup by Tom Compton, who did a reasonably job in both the run game and in protecting Ryan against a good Chiefs pass rush.
Matthews, the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft, did not return to the game.
Right tackle Ryan Schraeder talked to Matthews.
“He’s really positive,” Schraeder said. “Jake is a tough guy. He’s going to recover and he’s going to be just fine.”
Compton was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 draft out of South Dakota by Washington. He’s in his first season with the Falcons.
Compton has played in 44 games with 11 NFL starts.
“It’s tough to have to have to come in and fill in for Jake,” Compton said. “He’s such a good player and vital to this team. You just try to step in and do the best that you can.”
Compton is the backup for Schraeder and Matthews and plays in some jumbo blocking packages.
“That’s kind of my role,” Compton said. “I have to be ready for any kind of situation like that. During the week I spend time at right tackle and left tackle and you have to try to be ready for both sides.”
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