The peformance lately of Falcons rookie left tackle Jake Matthews suggests he’s having issues with the left ankle he injured during the season opener.
Bears defensive end Jared Allen was able to pressure quarterback Matt Ryan on Sunday by pushing Mathews backwards with bull rushes. Matthews appeared to have trouble anchoring because of the balky ankle. Matthews allowed two sacks and five other pressures and also was penalized twice for holding.
The previous week Matthews had so many issues in pass blocking against Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul that offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter eventually provided help with running backs.
Allen and Pierre-Paul are both effective pass rushers but it’s clear Matthews, the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, is struggling physically. Matthews sat out the Week 2 game at Cincinnati because of the ankle injury before returning to the lineup.
Coach Mike Smith has praised Matthews’ toughness as he plays through the injury, and Koetter said Matthews also is going through some typical growing pans.
“We’ve got to remember, Jake is six games into his rookie season,” Koetter said. “We’ve already switched him from the right to the left. Jake is a tough guy and he’s a very prideful guy. If Jake is bothered by that ankle, he would never say it. He doesn’t say anything about that. You never hear Jake complaining about anything.”
If the Falcons were to decide to rest Matthews, Ryan Schraeder or Cameron Bradfield would replace him. Schraeder didn’t fare well in four starts in 2013 and the Jaguars released Bradfield this season because of poor pass blocking.
The Falcons lost starting left tackle Sam Baker to a season-ending injury during training camp, which prompted moving Matthews from right to left tackle. Lamar Holmes, Matthews’ replacement at right tackle, suffered a season-ending foot injury against the Vikings in Week 4.
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