Three probable offensive line starters weren't even on the field as the Atlanta Falcons resumed organized team activities this week.
Left tackle Jake Matthews continues to recover from January surgery to repair a Lisfranc ligament tear. Center Joe Hawley remains on the mend from an ACL and MCL tear. And right guard Jon Asamoah was held out two days this week with an undisclosed injury.
Not to mention tackle Sam Baker is nowhere to be seen coming off last year's season-ending knee injury and center/guard Peter Konz is still far from returning from an ACL tear.
In other words, new offensive line coach Chris Morgan already has the challenge of finding five capable bodies to work with the first-team offense. At least he has a familiar veteran presence with the recent signing of ex-Redskins starting right guard Chris Chester, a player he helped coach while he was the assistant offensive line coach in Washington under new Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
"Chris can play anywhere in the inside three," Morgan said of Chester. "He's got experience at all those positions (right guard, left guard, center). When I was with him in Washington, he snapped for us all the time. It's just good to get another guy in here to compete."
Once the line returns to full strength, it probably would make the most sense to have the versatile Chester fill the need at left guard. Mike Person is currently manning the position. Hawley would no doubt step back in as the starting center ahead of James Stone. The Falcons are likely to keep Asamoah's veteran presence at right guard even if he's not the ideal fit to get out and run in an outside zone-blocking scheme. Ryan Schraeder is set to be the right tackle opposite Matthews at left.
When asked about Asamoah at right guard, Morgan spoke in general terms.
"All these guys are working hard," Morgan said. "All these guys are competing. All these guys are doing everything we ask. They're learning the system. They're practicing hard."
Morgan downplayed being without the likes of Matthews and Hawley at this stage.
"These guys are working hard," Morgan reiterated. "The guys who are out here, it's just the next man up. And they've done a good job with that so far."
