Falcons vs. Washington inactives: The Falcons park Alford, Bryant and three OL

The Atlanta Falcons are about to square off against the Washington Redskins, and they’ll be down their starting kicker and one of their starting cornerbacks when they do so. They’ll also, interestingly enough, be rolling with just two reserve offensive linemen.

Robert Alford and Matt Bryant were expected to be out for this one, but the Falcons are also sitting Brian Hill and Steven Means at running back and defensive end, leaving Ito Smith and Tevin Coleman at RB and Vic Beasley, Takk McKinley, Brooks Reed and Derrick Shelby at end. They’re also sitting Austin Pasztor, Rees Odhiambo and Matt Gono.

That last bit is interesting because the Falcons are starting Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzer at guard for the first time and have had shaky offensive line play for a significant part of the year. Pasztor and Odhiambo were relatively recently signed and Gono is a developmental guy, but they’ll now be rolling with Ty Sambrailo at tackle and newly-signed Zane Beadles as an emergency option across the offensive line. Let’s hope they don’t need either of them.