Atlanta Falcons move Jake Matthews to left tackle after Sam Baker's injury
The Atlanta Falcons have moved rookie Jake Matthews to left tackle because Sam Baker is out for the season with a knee injury, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Lamar Holmes was moved to right tackle to replace Matthews. Homes started at left tackle for most of last season.
In a huge blow to the Falcons, Baker torn his patellar ligament in his right knee in the fourth offensive series against the Houston Texans on Saturday. The 29-year-old, sixth-year veteran out of USC played just four games last season after having surgery on his patellar tendon in his left knee. He signed a six-year, $41 million deal with Atlanta last offseason.
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Matthews was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and had been working with the first-team offense since the Falcons' organized team activities. He now will be tasked with protecting quarterback Matt Ryan's blind side.
At Texas A&M, Matthews started at right tackle during the the 2011 and 2012 seasons, but in 2013 he made the transition to left tackle and started all 13 of the Aggies' games.
- Sarah Barshop
