With Matt Bryant not practicing, Falcons sign kicker Mike Meyer to the practice squad

We basically knew that Courtney Upshaw and Mohamed Sanu would not practice today. Sanu, after all, is out a couple of weeks, and the Falcons brought defensive lineman Taniela Tupou up from the practice squad, signaling Upshaw’s potential unavailability Sunday. We did see two new names on the injury report, however, and both are concerning.

The first was Justin Hardy, who hopefully is just a little slowed and won’t be missing Sunday’s game, given that it would leave the team perilously thin at wide receiver for a tilt against the Dolphins. The second was Matt Bryant, and because you can’t exactly go into a game without a kicker, the Falcons filled their open practice squad spot with one.

You’ll remember Meyer from a strong preseason for Atlanta, and he might have made a stronger case for an actual roster spot if Bryant hadn’t been the incumbent he was trying to unseat. If Bryant can’t go for any reason Sunday—and it’s too early in the week to say just yet—Meyer would presumably handle kicking duties in his stead. I was a little surprised the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t give him a look with their kicking woes, but I’m glad they didn’t now.

If Hardy can’t go, expect Nick Williams to get a lot of snaps at wide receiver. If Bryant can’t go, the Falcons will put their kicking game in the hands (feet?) of Meyer, who I sincerely hope will be up to the task.