Matthew Bergeron unlikely to play against Colts
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons offensive line likely will have another missing piece Sunday, as coach Raheem Morris deemed left guard Matthew Bergeron “week to week” with an ankle injury sustained in the team’s loss to New England.
The likely absence coincides with the Falcons trying to ignite a stagnant running game against the Indianapolis Colts, whose rushing defense ranks No. 4 in the NFL at 87 yards allowed per game. The game will be played Sunday in Berlin.
“We’ll see how that goes,” Morris said Wednesday. “Obviously, doesn’t look good (for Bergeron) for this week.”
Morris was more hopeful for All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom, who also was unable to finish the game against the Patriots because of a foot injury. Morris called him “day to day” and said that he felt “really good” about Lindstrom’s availability for the Colts game.
The Falcons have failed to clear the 100-yard mark for rushing in each of their past three games, all defeats. In the four previous games, they averaged 171.8 rushing yards in winning three of the four. Morris has called the run game the lifeline of the offense.
The team has played without starting right tackle Kaleb McGary for the entire season, as he is out with a season-ending leg injury. Further, the return of offensive tackle Storm Norton, who has yet to play this season with an ankle injury, may be delayed.
Norton did not practice Friday, and Morris, while reluctant to give a full explanation, said that “it wasn’t great news.” It may mean he will have to go on season-ending injured reserve. On the IR since the start of the season, Norton is in the midst of a 21-day window to be added to the 53-man roster or be placed on season-ending IR. The window closes next week.
Bergeron’s replacement would be Kyle Hinton, who has made one start in his four-year NFL career, the past three with the Falcons. Hinton came in for Bergeron against the Patriots.
Coincidentally, Hinton lived in Germany for his first two years of high school with his military family in Vilseck, about 200 miles south of Berlin. He said that a couple of friends and former coaches will come to see him play.
“Definitely weird how it all comes around,” Hinton said. “But I can’t get too much into sentimental (feelings) and stuff like that because it’s a different circumstance I’m going into.”
Morris also said that he felt “really good” about both rookie cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. and defensive lineman Zach Harrison returning to play after absences with hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.
Bowman has missed the past four games; Harrison has missed the past two.
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
