The Falcons have spent the last four weeks without starting outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter. Carter’s absence is the result of an unexpected stint on injured reserve following a concussion suffered in a Week 6 win in Carolina. According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Carter has officially been designated to return from IR.
The situation began on the first Wednesday of the week following his last game appearance. The week’s initial injury report showed that Carter was in the NFL’s concussion protocol. He had originally been placed on the team’s injury report under the designation of “illness” after not practicing, but Atlanta updated the designation to “concussion” by the end of the day. Carter missed the team’s next two practices before ultimately being ruled out for the Falcons’ next game.
What made the sequence of events so surprising is that concussions rarely warrant a stint on IR. At a minimum, we’ve seen players navigate the league’s concussion protocol in days. To see Carter being ruled out for four weeks because of the head injury added some uncertainty to his situation.
Carter had been the starter across from Matt Judon for every game before hitting the IR, except for one in which the team only started one outside linebacker. In his extended absence, James Smith-Williams took over the starting job across from Judon, with Arnold Ebiketie filling into the rotation a good amount, as well.
Despite trading for a star pass rusher in Judon, the Falcons' pass rush has been virtually nonexistent in 2024. Atlanta ranks dead-last in the league in sacks (9), despite sitting at 15th in the NFL in quarterback hurries and 14th in quarterback knockdowns. Currently, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett leads the team with 2.5 sacks, Judon is second with 1.5, and five other players add a sack each.
Carter’s return to the field may not elevate the Falcons’ pass rush into an elite unit — his career-high sack total is five — but at the very least, his eventual addition provides another weapon to a struggling unit. Wednesday's transaction opens the 21-day practice window for Carter. If, at the end of the three-week period, he’s unable to be activated, Carter will return to season-ending IR. He was limited in practice on Wednesday.
