Johnson also in the mix at right tackle
Falcons offensive lineman Mike Johnson is also in the mix for the starting right tackle position.
With rookie Jake Matthews being switched over to left tackle after Sam Baker suffered a season-ending knee injury, a vacancy was created at right tackle.
Lamar Holmes, Ryan Schraeder and Terren Jones were the other players seeing time at right tackle. Johnson was working inside with the guards and centers while Gabe Carimi, perhaps missing a chance to salvage his career, is out with an ankle injury.
“Mike has done some good things for us, being the big tight end (in 2012),” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “That’s a role that he played for us very well. He’ll get an opportunity to play guard and tackle in the game this week.”
Just last season, Johnson was winning the battle for the starting right tackle spot until he suffered season-ending ankle injury against the Bengals in a joint-practice.
Johnson played in all 16 games. He suffered the fractured fibula and dislocated ankle on Aug. 6, 2013. He was ahead of Lamar Holmes for the starting spot at the time.
Johnson, who played at Alabama, was practicing mostly at the second-team right guard spot and at center.
“The right side, we’re going to have to find a guy to get in there and take over,” center Joe Hawley said. “The guys that are competing for it have been around here. So, we’ve played with them, Schrader, Mike Johnson and Lamar. They’ve all played. They have a lot of experience. The best man is going to win.”
Offensive line coach Mike Tice sees the competition extending into the final exhibition game at Jacksonville on Thursday, Aug. 28.
“Lamar has played better in the games than he has practiced at times - which I guess is encouraging and discouraging,” Tice said. “We are hoping that he can take the next step to becoming more consistent.”
Schraeder made the team last season as an undrafted rookie from Valdosta State.
“You take Ryan Schraeder, a young guy who has played both sides for us, it tends to be a little easier for him to make the transition flip-flopping,” Tice said. “He is a pretty good athlete…. I think that will be a pretty good battle.”
Tice would like to split the remaining time in order to determine the winner.
“I think more than anything the Carimi injury has me unsettled because I’d like to see the three guys take equal snaps the last two weeks and get some good work … on stunts,” Tice said. “Jake and Jon (Asamoah) were picking up stunts real well and now all of a sudden you’ve got new people. That is the biggest problem.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
