Falcons offensive tackle/guard Gabe Carimi is preparing himself to be ready to start at left tackle against the Bengals if Jake Matthews can’t answer the bell at 1 p.m. Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.
Carimi took over for Matthews, who has a left ankle injury, in the season-opener against the Saints.
“It’s definitely a different position,” said Carimi, who was rotating at right tackle with Lamar Holmes. “I hadn’t received that many snaps on (the left side). But going in there, it’s somebody’s job to be the next man in and that was my job. I went in there and did it.”
Carimi, a former first round pick and Outland Trophy winner, struggled at times against the Saints. He’ll have to face Cincinnati’s Carlos Dunlap. The Falcons would likely give him some help with a tight end or a running back.
“You just have to take reps at it and try to get better at it,” Carimi said. “That’s all you can do and work on the next game plan.”
Carimi thought that the last time he played left tackle was at the Senior Bowl in 2011. He has sated 19 games since being selected in the first round by the Chicago Bears in 2011.
He was traded to Tampa Bay in 2013 and released by the Bucs. The Falcons signed him on Feb. 17, 2014.
About the Author
