4:29pm: The veteran quarterback has indeed suffered a torn ACL, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who adds the Falcons will be on the hunt for a new backup quarterback. The team has since announced the unfortunate results of McCarron’s MRI. McCarron has seven years’ experience as a QB2, leaving the Falcons with work to do at an unideal time. However, Ryan’s durability (three missed starts in 13 seasons) will help the franchise on this front.
9:10am: Falcons quarterback A.J. McCarron suffered a serious knee injury during last night’s preseason matchup against the Dolphins. After handing the ball off to running back Qadree Ollison in the second quarter, McCarron grabbed his right knee and tried to walk off the field, though he was initially unable to do so. He ultimately walked gingerly to the locker room, and neither McCarron nor head coach Arthur Smith were encouraged by the prognosis.
“I really feel for [McCarron],” Smith said (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com). “Any time something like that happens and it’s non-contact, it’s tough when you know what these guys put into it. I feel for A.J. We’ll obviously get the MRI to confirm but he’s heartbroken.”
Smith did not want to speculate on the specifics until after McCarron gets an MRI, but it certainly sounds as if it will be a season-ender for the former Alabama star. Which means that the Falcons, who signed McCarron to a one-year deal this offseason to serve as Matt Ryan‘s backup, could be in the market for a veteran passer.
The only other QB on the roster, undrafted rookie Feleipe Franks, took over for McCarron and completed four of his nine passes for 46 yards. He also threw an interception and took four sacks, adding three carries for 32 yards.
As one might expect, the current free agent quarterback list is uninspiring and includes the likes of Blake Bortles and Josh Rosen, though new ESPN talent Robert Griffin III could be an option. Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com also speculates that, if the Titans were to cut Logan Woodside, he might become a target for Atlanta (Twitter link). Smith, Tennessee’s former offensive coordinator, is high on Woodside’s talent, and the McCarron situation might compel the Titans to keep Woodside on their roster to avoid having him poached.
Wonder after a pretty decent preseason showing.If Steelers might try to trade Mason Rudolph to one of these teams needing a back up QB. they already have a crowded room.
Doubt it….there’s gonna be tons of other options in about a week for teams to comb through. Mason torching third stringers isn’t really going to wow some team. At best, maybe a 7th is about all any team would give up.
That’s better than just cutting him tho.. lol but I’d have to say at the most would be probably a 5th but would have to settle for something like you suggested
Most of those other options are even worse than Rudolph, and don’t have the physical upside he has. One can at least squint and see Rudolph as a QB2, while most of the QB’s cut are only borderline QB3’s.
Agreed with cka2nd. I also doubt that Pittsburgh will cut Rudolph this year, nor do I think that they’ll enter next season without a semi-experienced quarterback as either a backup or starter. If Ben goes, they’ll likely keep Rudolph even after drafting a new guy. In any case, I doubt Rudolph walks for nothing, and if he does, it’s likely for a good reason.
They extended Rudolph already, so he’s under contract through 2022. As a Vikings fan, I’m just hoping that Haskins beats him out for the QB2 job and the Steelers figure they’ll just take the draft pick (and/or a player or two) for him. I totally agree that they will not just cut him; he’s a classic “maybe he just needs a change of scenery” talent, so he still has trade value.
Poor DeShone KIzer… couldn’t even get a mention on the uninspired list.
Go get Jake Fromm …. Tim Tebow…. Not cause I think either will be amazing QB’s but because they will draw a few more fans to the games lol
It will be an uphill battle to draw fans away from the Braves who have won 15 of their last 17 games.
alas…
The good news for Mr McCarron is that he still edges out Colt McCoy for the hottest wife in the NFL….
I guess that’s subjective. I mean Brady did marry one of the most popular supermodels at the time. I’ve never seen McCarrons wife so I’m not saying she’s not just saying a star supermodel seems hard to beat
seth3120 —
So please enlighten us all….
Your top 5 NFL wives?
Pictures would be nice, I am willing to bet that Tommy’s super model isn’t gong to make top 10….
Gisele Bündchen is 41 now. Unfair competition. Gisele was something else as a young woman. Miss Alabama 2012 is a very attractive woman but not in Bündchen’s league when compared at the same age. Bündchen was the dominant supermodel of her generation. In 2008, a black-and-white photo of Bündchen shot by Irving Penn was auctioned for $193,000.
As lovely as she is, Katherine Webb is pure Americana and a local celebrity.
Can Newton qualifies as a veteran backup, doesn’t he??? Anything to get him out of Foxboro works for most Patriots fans.
Two words, Nick Foles.
Bortles is a pretty good option, actually. We’re very eager to jump on him due to his obvious misses, but he has plenty of starting experience. It’s really not often that you can sign a franchise’s second all time leading touchdown pass leader in free agency. The Falcons are looking for someone who can be trusted to run the offense, and Bortles can do that as a spot starter or second stringer.
I would wonder though, with an already entrenched veteran QB, why Atlanta wouldn’t give their new offensive coach a young QB to try to develop. If Woodside is someone he likes, maybe he gets him? I didn’t think he was especially good in the AAFL, but that’s just me. I suppose this all depends on how much Atlanta wants to give up for a backup.
Agreed, but I think Atlanta could be a landing spot for Josh Rosen. He didn’t really get the chance to learn under Brady. He knows the system Atlanta runs. He can learn under Ryan.
My guess is that most teams see Rosen as a QB3 at best, and very possibly as only a practice squad, developmental QB. I doubt anyone is willing to sign him as a QB2 at this point.
It looks like Rosen’s NFL career is over. He had a big man on campus attitude and not the talent of a Rodgers to carry it off. Rosen annoys teammates (so does Rodgers) but cannot lead by dominating the field. Lost cause.
I agree. I know some people will groan at the idea of Bortles, but it’s important to remember they’re looking for a 2nd string QB. Bortles isn’t a bad option for that role.
Agreed with both of you. I don’t think Rosen could be a bad option in this situation, but Bortles could be fitting as well.
If she needs a shoulder to cry on, Brent Musberger is offering up his condolences to AJs woman right now…
I guess he got hurt before he tried to scramble and ran smack dab into a Dolphins defender then left the game. if that’s the case he made things worse for himself by playing plays after the incident instead of going to a knee then .
“Any time something like that happens and it’s non-contact,
It was non contact and no one was 10-15 yards near him. Just an FYI.
remember when hue jackson almost set the browns back even further by trying to trade a 2nd round pick for this dude
i’m sorry, a second AND a third. probably would have been the nick chubb 2nd round pick too
In fairness, McCarron would have been a massive upgrade over what Cleveland had at that point. Hue was trying to help himself, and it’s hard to blame him given the short careers of most coaches.
Maybe Colin Kapernick?
Wrong state but good choice as a viable QB2.
Is there an easier job in the NFL than Matt Ryan’s backup? Ryan has missed one game in the last decade.