WATCH: Falcons first-round guard Chris Lindstrom should play again in 2019 if healthy

The Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom should play again this year if healthy.

The Atlanta Falcons lost No. 14 overall pick guard Chris Lindstrom to a foot injury in Week 1. His injury isn't the reason the Falcons are 1-7, but his loss was the first of a series of unfortunate events for Atlanta this season.

With the 2019 season now a lost one for the Falcons, there are questions of whether or not Lindstrom should play again this year. He shed the walking boot a couple weeks ago and was eligible to come off injured reserve for this week's matchup against the Saints, but he remains on IR as of Wednesday, so it appears he'll sit out at least another week.

Redshirting Lindstrom isn't the worst idea at this point. The Falcons aren't going anywhere, and Jamon Brown has filled in adequately at right guard.

For those reasons, it would be silly to rush back Lindstrom. But if he's healthy enough to play, why not play him? He's a young offensive lineman that has tremendous potential but still needs more NFL experience. Even in games that are meaningless for the Falcons, Lindstrom can receive some much-needed game reps that will be a tremendous help for him going into Year 2.

Then next year, assuming the team doesn't cut center Alex Mack, the Falcons can have their dream scenario with five former first-round picks starting on the offensive line.

As Mack and left tackle Jake Matthews age, Lindstrom going to become the center piece of that offensive line and is already at the center of youth movement hopefully coming to Atlanta. As long as he's 100 percent before the end of the season, that movement should start now.