Left guard-needy Falcons could get help at position

Atlanta Falcons guard Jalen Mayfield. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons could get help at left guard soon as key player returns to practice

By Cory Woodroof | Last updated 11/16/22

The Atlanta Falcons need some help at left guard, and Jalen Mayfield could be the answer.

The Falcons designated Mayfield to return to the 53-man roster from injured reserve Wednesday, but it could be a couple of weeks until he's ready to take snaps.

Falcons LG Jalen Mayfield, who was designated to return from IR Wednesday, said he felt good at practice but doubts he'll be ready to play Sunday. "It’ll take a few weeks (to get his condition fully back)." Mayfield has been on the IR all season due to a back injury.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) November 16, 2022

The Falcons have lost guards Elijah Wilkinson and Matt Hennessy in recent weeks, and they saw guard Colby Gossett struggle last Thursday against the Carolina Panthers.

The Falcons have lost two straight games, and the left guard spot seems to be a sore point as the team pushes into its last seven contests. Two injuries will do that to you.

Mayfield is a 2021 third-round pick out of Michigan. He got rushed into the starting lineup last fall after guard Josh Andrews went on IR early in the season. Mayfield struggled to gain footing on a starting spot, putting his 2022 status in flux. However, he's spent all of 2022 on IR himself.

Whether Mayfield can be a long-term piece for the Falcons or not is to be determined, but 2022 snaps should help the team know if they have someone to work with.

With the injuries piling up and Gossett not holding strong against the Panthers, one wonders if Mayfield could, in a few weeks, be the guy to offer stability where the Falcons desperately need it.

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