FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons placed right tackle Kaleb McGary on injured reserve without a designation to return along the way to cutting roster to the 53-player limit Tuesday.
With injuries to McGary and Storm Norton, two of their top three offensive tackles, the Falcons traded a conditional draft pick for a tackle, according to his agent Brian Hamilton.
The Falcons picked up Michael Jerrell for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft, according to his agent, Brian Hamilton.
Jerrell, who’s 6-foot-5 and 309 pounds, was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 draft by the Seahawks. He played in 10 games and made three starts last season after playing in college at Findlay.
McGary (left leg) and Norton (ankle) will begin the season on injured reserve, though Norton was placed on IR with a designation to return.
The Falcons started early Tuesday making moves, as running back Jashaun Corbin was waived before 9 a.m., according to his agent. A little later, running back Carlos Washington Jr. was waived, according to his agent. He’s expected to be signed to the practice squad.
“It’s always tough to do cuts,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “You never get comfortable doing that.”
Cornerback Cobee Bryant, safety/linebacker Ronnie Harrison, Kicker Lenny Krieg and quarterback Easton Stick were cut.
Stick, who started all three exhibition games, completed 54 of 78 passes (69.2%) for 520 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions and finished with a 89.7 passer rating. Jerrell, 26, is a native of Indianapolis.
After playing at the NCAA Division II level, he was considered a developmental prospect entering the 2024 draft. He was projected to be a priority free agent before he was drafted by the Seahawks.
He was critiqued to need improvement in run and pass blocking, but as a former basketball player, he has the athletic skills to make the adjustments.
“The biggest thing as a key when you are playing big-edge defenders is that he has the ability to play long,” Findlay coach Kory Allen said on the “Locked on Seahawks” podcast after Jerrell was drafted. “He has a long reach, and he’s very, very strong through his core. ... He has the ability to play long. Which I think is great. He has the ability to anchor and play thick through his lower half.”
Jerrell has a pass blocking grade of 54.8 and a run-blocking grade of 49.5 on a scale of 0-100, by Pro Football Focus. He ranked 95th and 123rd, respectively, out of the 140 tackles ranked.
“I think there are things he can certainly clean up,” Allen said. “A lot of those things he needs to clean up will come with more consistent and higher competition. Where there are some things maybe he got away with because he could.”
After getting down to 53 players and waiver claims are processed, the Falcons can start adding up to 16 players to the practice squad after noon Wednesday. The Falcons can go up to 17 players if the additional player is from the International Pathways Program, such as Krieg.
“Nowadays, it is a lot easier because of the practice squad and the (promotions) and a second chance to have the opportunity to do those things with the league giving us more practice-squad players,” Morris said. “That’s awesome. But there is still a handful of guys that you may not see again or may not be on the roster. Those things are always tough.”
The Falcons roster, which stands at 52 players
Quarterbacks (2): Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr.
Running backs (3): Tyler Allgeier, Nathan Carter and Bijan Robinson.
Wide receivers (7): Jamal Agnew, KhaDarel Hodge, Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Darnell Mooney, David Sills V and Casey Washington
Tight ends (4): Feleipe Franks, Kyle Pitts Sr., Teagan Quitoriano and Charlie Woerner
Offensive line (8): Matthew Bergeron, Jovaughn Gwyn, Kyle Hinton, Chris Lindstrom, Jake Matthews, Jack Nelson, Ryan Neuzil and Elijah Wilkinson.
Defensive line (5): Brandon Dorlus, Zach Harrison, LaCale London, David Onyemata and Ruke Orhorhoro
Outside linebackers (6): Arnold Ebiketie, Leonard Floyd, DeAngelo Malone, James Pearce Jr., Bralen Trice and Jalon Walker
Inside linebackers (4): JD Bertrand, Divine Deablo, Kaden Elliss and Josh Woods
Cornerbacks (7): Dee Alford, Billy Bowman Jr., Natrone Brooks, Mike Ford Jr., Mike Hughes, Clark Phillips III and A.J. Terrell
Safeties (3): Jessie Bates III, DeMarcco Hellams and Xavier Watts
Specialists (3): Younghoe Koo, Liam McCullough and Bradley Pinion
Other designations
Injured reserve
*CB Grayland Arnold
DL Ta’Quon Graham (designated to return)
*QB Emory Jones
OL Kaleb McGary
OL Storm Norton (designated to return)
*OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
* Previously announced
Reserve/Physically unable to perform
ILB Troy Andersen
Reserve/Non-Football Injury
ILB Malik Verdon
Waived
DL Simeon Barrow Jr.
S Henry Black
WR Chris Blair
CB Cobee Bryant
RB Jashaun Corbin
WR Dylan Drummond
OL Joshua Gray
K Lenny Krieg
CB Dontae Manning
WR Nick Nash
TE Joshua Simon
RB Carlos Washington Jr.
OL Jordan Williams
Released
S Jordan Fuller
ILB Ronnie Harrison
CB C.J. Henderson
Edge Khalid Kareem
T Brandon Parker
QB Easton Stick
DL Kentavius Street
CB Keith Taylor
OL Jake Hanson (from injured reserve with injury settlement)
Correction
This story has been updated to correct the names of Jovaughn Gwyn and JD Bertrand.
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