ESPN: Falcons undecided on activating Chris Lindstrom from IR

With the Falcons an unmitigated disaster, it is easy to forget that the team’s first-round pick Chris Lindstrom is still on injured reserve. The guard was absolutely solid in his limited playing time despite blocking against a stout Minnesota Vikings defensive line.

Luckily, the Falcons had paid two guards starter money so there was an immediate replacement. Unluckily, both Jamon Brown and James Carpenter were terrible and the offensive line was an immediate liability. With his broken foot healing, could he return in 2019?

Per ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, the Falcons are undecided if they will bring him back in a wasted season.

The RG is progressing “very good’’ and badly wants to play, but it’s 50/50 right now whether the team will activate him from IR.

The Falcons have been snakebitten with big injuries to big players and likely do not want to rush Lindstrom back when the team is out of the playoff race. McClure notes that Lindstrom’s walking boot is coming off “soon.”

Lindstrom can technically return to practice as early as today, but that would obviously be tough in a walking boot. His earliest possible return game is on November 17th against the Carolina Panthers.

The Falcons must be weighing their desire to keep Lindstrom healthy and the hope he can develop by getting meaningful snaps in his rookie season. As we have seen with Isaiah Oliver, players do not develop on the bench.