Falcons offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, a former first-round pick, has been solid in duty at left tackle, left guard and right tackle this season.
He’s set to take over at right tackle for Lamar Holmes when the Falcons (2-2) face the New York Giants (2-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
“Every week, I come in with the same mentality that I’m going to be in a starting position,” Carimi said. “I have to be prepared that way. I think you have to go into the game thinking that you’re going to do that. If you don’t you’re just going to mess your mind up in a bad way.”
Carimi was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 29th overall pick of the 2011 draft. He started 19 games of 32 games over two seasons before he was traded to Tampa Bay for a sixth-round pick.
When former Chicago head coach Lovie Smith landed the Tampa Bay job, Carimi was one of the first players released. The Falcons, who had hired Mike Tice, his former offensive line coach in Chicago, signed him on Feb. 17.
Carimi was slated to serve as a utility backup before the onslaught of injuries which also include season-ending injuries to Sam Baker and Mike Johnson.
However, he’s not going through any extra preparation for the Giants.
“I don’t think my mentality is any different,” Carimi said. “I’m going to watch just as much film as I did before.”
He will have to next right guard Jon Asamoah.
“You definitely have to have a rhythm with the guy you’re working with,” Carimi said. “I’ve worked with Jon in training camp and I’ve worked with him just in practice for a few weeks. I have no problems with Jon next to me.”
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