The Falcons will be practicing in Atlanta this week before heading to Houston for the final preparations before Super Bowl LI, but one of their starters may not be on the field.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that center Alex Mack is unlikely to practice this week due to “a swollen, painful sprained ankle.” Mack left the NFC Championship Game briefly because of the injury before returning to the lineup.
Rapoport adds that Mack is expected to be OK in time for the game, which is good news for a Falcons offense that benefitted from his arrival as a free agent last offseason. He was voted a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and anchored a line that improved over underwhelming performances in recent seasons.
Mack may not be the only player to take it easy this week. Wide receiver Julio Jones missed two days of practice last week because of the foot and toe injuries that have bothered him for a while and it’s a good bet that the Falcons won’t push him too far this week with so much time before the game.