The Atlanta Falcons quarterback AJ McCarron is “heartbroken” after suffering a torn right ACL in his team’s preseason defeat to the Detroit Lions on Friday night.
AJ McCarron, the Atlanta Falcons’ backup quarterback, exited the game in the second quarter of Saturday night’s 37-17 defeat to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium with a right knee injury.
While Falcons coach Arthur Smith declined to speculate on the severity of McCarron’s injury until the veteran has an MRI, he did not sound optimistic about the prognosis.
“I have a lot of sympathy for AJ McCarron,” Smith remarked. “Anytime anything like that occurs, especially when it’s non-contact, it’s difficult knowing what these men put into it.” I’m sorry for AJ. We’ll have an MRI to confirm it, but he’s devastated.
“He’d bounced back, and he was out there battling for his team, trying to gain those extra yards.”
With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the injury occurred. McCarron gave the ball to running back Qadree Ollison, who clutched his right knee as he came out of his usual action after the handoff.
McCarron attempted to move toward the sideline but was unable to do so at first. He went off to the sideline when the Falcons medical team arrived to evaluate him. McCarron went slowly to the Atlanta locker room a few minutes later. Against the Dolphins, he completed 3-of-6 passes for 43 yards and added a seven-yard run. He ran a play before injuring his knee.
Smith said he didn’t know whether that play had a role in McCarron’s injury. McCarron was replaced by Feleipe Franks, an undrafted rookie with whom he had been fighting for the No. 2 spot throughout training camp. Franks, who was supposed to come in in the second half, instead came on with 10 minutes left in the first.
Franks threw for 46 yards on 4-of-9 passing with one interception and three running attempts for 32 yards. He was dismissed four times throughout his career.
“One thing Feleipe has shown is his ability to prolong plays,” Smith added. “Tonight, I felt he threw the ball a little bit better. Still need to push him in areas where he’s made significant progress and will continue to do so.”
According to Smith, you have to play quarterbacks in order to develop them, and that was the idea with Franks throughout the first two preseason games. Unfortunately, Smith noted, the scenario Franks experienced Saturday — being forced to play sooner than anticipated due to injury — is what a backup quarterback’s job would entail at times.
With McCarron’s injury, Atlanta now has additional concerns about starting quarterback Matt Ryan, who has yet to play in the preseason. Former first-round selections Blake Bortles and Robert Griffin III are among the top available free agents for the Falcons to consider.
Smith said, “You’re constantly looking to enhance the squad.” “So we need to figure out what the injury is.” You’ve seen things happen before, and it’s fast, till we get an MRI. We’re constantly trying to enhance the roster, however.
“If it’s long-term, yes, we’ll keep looking.”
On April 30, only hours before the NFL draft’s second day, the Falcons signed McCarron to a one-year contract for more than $1.21 million to be the team’s No. 2 quarterback. McCarron, a fifth-round selection out of Alabama in 2014, has started four games and completed 62.6 percent of his throws for 1,173 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.
