Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson has been named the starting right tackle for Sunday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Raheem Morris told reporters on Monday afternoon.
The move has been heavily hinted at since Kaleb McGary was placed on the injured reserve list ahead of the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline. The Falcons acquired second-year offensive tackle Michael Jerrell in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks last week, but they are going with the more experienced option.
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Wilkinson, 30, has appeared in 79 games with 45 starts since entering the league in 2017. The veteran has played both guard and tackle. In 2022, he started nine games at guard for the Falcons before signing with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.
Morris said first-round pick Jalon Walker is on track to play in Week 1. The rookie has been battling hamstring and groin injuries throughout training camp, so this is a positive development for the Falcons defense. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney may not be 100 percent yet, though. According to Morris, is “day-to-day” with a shoulder injury.
Check out Atlanta’s updated 53-man roster (with uniform numbers), and our latest depth chart projection heading into Sunday’s opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Elijah Wilkinson named starting right tackle