The Falcons will be without kicker Matt Bryant (undisclosed) and offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo (hand) in Friday’s exhibition game at the New York Jets, the team announced Monday.
Bryant did not participate in Monday’s practice. The team indicated it did not believe the issue was a long-term issue. David Marvin, from Georgia, is the other kicker on the Falcons roster and will kick against the Jets.
Sambrailo missed all of last week’s practice with his injury. He is dealing with a lingering hand issue that has kept him out of camp for more than a week. The Falcons dealt a fifth-round draft pick to the Broncos for Sambrailo in 2017. He appeared in 15 games last season, but started just two — with middling results. There’s little indication as to the severity or a timetable for when he might return to the field.
Defensive end Takk McKinley is still slowly working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. He participated in practice on Monday, but was held out of 11-on-11 team drills. The team would not rule him out for Friday’s game, and even expressed some optimism, saying he’s progressing well and that there’s a good possibility he plays Friday.
Head coach Dan Quinn didn’t indicate one way or another whether McKinley would be able to go, saying it would be up to the medical staff.
“When they give the green light that he can do what he does wide-open and going,” Quinn said. “We’re always going to make the best decisions to take care of the guys every chance we get.”
The Falcons and McKinley both called it a day-to-day situation and the decision to play will depend on how he continues to respond in practice.
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