The Falcons have grabbed the lead in Minnesota, but they may have to protect it with a skeleton crew on their offensive line.
Center Joe Hawley has been carted off the field with what looked like a potential right knee injury, forcing the Falcons to make more changes on the fly to an offensive line that already saw guard Justin Blalock and right tackle Lamar Holmes go out with injuries.
Those injuries had already forced reserves Peter Konz and Gabe Carimi into the lineup, but Hawley’s injury left them without another offensive lineman to turn to for the fourth quarter of the game. Tight end Levine Toilolo is now lining up at right tackle for Atlanta, which is likely to have some impact on their play calling the rest of the way.
Blalock hurt his back and Holmes hurt his foot. Both returns were deemed questionable, but it seems closer to doubtful if the team is going with four offensive linemen at this juncture of the contest.