Falcons OL Matt Hennessy 'Spot in Question'?

Atlanta Falcons offensive linemen Matt Hennessy has started 22 games since being selected in the third-round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

By all accounts, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to bolster one of the NFL's best rushing offenses this season. 

After finishing third in the league in yards per game (159.9) and second in rush-play percentage (55.3%), Atlanta added to its running game by selecting Bijan Robinson in the first-round of this year's draft. 

However, this two-headed monster of Tyler Allgeier and Robinson is only going to work if the offensive line stays healthy - especially starting at left guard. 

And following a rotating door at the position a season ago, it's anybody's guess who will be the Week 1 starter. 

"Matt Hennessy took the first-team reps at left guard, just as he did all of spring practices," Michael Rothstein writes. "His spot is the one likely most in question among the offensive line - it'll be something to watch going forward - as Kyle Hinton and second-round pick Matthew Bergeron took the second team guard reps (Bergeron was at left guard.) It is possible it turns into a position battle. Also possible it doesn't." 

A third-round pick in 2020, Hennessy started all 17 games in 2021 but was limited to just 11 games last season - an unfortunate theme for the Falcons at left guard - with four different players taking starting throughout the year (Elijah Wilkinson, Chuma Edoga and Colby Gossett). 

But with Hennessy as the only remaining player from the aforementioned group, Robinson may not be the only rookie as an immediate impact piece if Bergeron impresses through training camp. 

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Follow Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard.

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