The misfortune of some is sometimes the happiness of others. The adage could not better describe what Matthew Bergeron experienced on Friday, the third day of training camp for the Atlanta Falcons.
In the midst of a two-way fight for the starting position as left guard on the team’s offensive line, he was able to practice with the regulars. His main rival, Matt Hennessy, whom he certainly did not wish to injure himself, left the field about 30 minutes into the morning practice.
A leg injury sustained last year has resurfaced and head coach Arthur Smith said Hennesy will have magnetic resonance imaging on Saturday to clarify the extent.
Hennesy had to miss six games last season after suffering a knee injury.
The incident allowed Matthew Bergeron, who had previously been with the second practice squad, to join the starters for the rest of the day.
An opportunity
Drafted 38th overall by the Falcons at the end of April in the last National Football League (NFL) draft, the 23-year-old Victoriavillois quickly knew he was going to be employed as a guard rather than a blocker as was the case with the Syracuse University.
The needs for his preferred position being limited with the Falcons, the staff offered him the opportunity to fight for a starting position in his first season as a guard. If Hennesy seemed, according to observers, to have the upper hand over Bergeron since the holding of organized team activities (OTA) in May, his injury could open the door to the Quebecer.
He could thus know his baptism of fire on September 10, during the inaugural game of the team against the Carolina Panthers. Until then, training camp runs until August 27. The list of 53 players who have been retained on the final roster for the next season will be revealed at the end of the last preseason game, on August 24.
2023-07-28 21:33:08
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