Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews (left ankle sprain) was a full participant in practice and didn’t suffer any setbacks on Tuesday.
He’s slated to return to the starting lineup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night at the Georgia Dome.
“It was great to have Jake back out at practice today,” said Falcons coach Mike Smith. “He was a full participant. It was good to get him back into the starting lineup. We are pleased with the progress that he’s made.”
Smith is clearly expecting Matthews to answer the bell against the Bucs.
“Anything can happen, but we were really pleased with what he was able to do last night and in practice today,” Smith said.
Matthews was hurt in the second quarter against the Saints when a defender rolled up on his left ankle. He tested the ankle on Friday, but was declared out for the game against the Bengals.
Matthews said he had never missed a game in his career this past Sunday against the Bengals.
With Matthews back in the lineup, the Falcons will move Gabe Carimi back to right tackle, where he was rotating with Lamar Holmes, who struggled against the Bengals as he gave up four hurries.
Carimi, who was with Tampa Bay last season and played for Bucs coach Lovie Smith in Chicago, gave up two hurries, but played an overall strong game.
He’ll be ready to start at right tackle if the Falcons decide to promote him over a struggling Holmes.
“I’m kind of familiar with how they like to run the defense over there a little bit,” Carimi said. “I was at Tampa last year so I got to know the personnel a little bit. For me, at least, it’s a comfortable turnaround.”
Carimi doesn’t know if he’ll be moved into the starting lineup.
“Where ever I’m needed, I think I’m versatile in that (situation),” Carimi said. “All I can do is know every play and from being with Mike Tice previously, I’m comfortable with the playbook as far as the run game and that’s usually where you have adjustments week to week in the run game.
“In the passing game, it’s basically the same thing. You have to know your protection. You have to work on technique with hand placement. But in the run game, that’s where you actually change up or adjust to what people are trying to do.”
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