The veteran left tackle has started a franchise-high 183 games since 2014.
Terrin Waack
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. For only the 11th time in his 12-year career, Atlanta Falconsleft tackle Jake Matthewshas received a game status on an injury report.
Matthews wasdeemed questionable Fridayfor the Falcons' Week 7 game against the San Francisco 49ers due to an ankle injury. Atlanta has two days to decide whether Matthews will be active. The Falcons-49ers game is slotted for a "Sunday Night Football" show (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) at Levi's Stadium. Inactives will be announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
"We know who he is," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "We know what he doesn't miss."
Games.
Matthews has started a franchise-high 183 consecutive games. He has only ever missed one game since he was drafted by the Falcons with the No. 6 overall pick in 2014, and it was his second possible game as a rookie. Oddly enough, Matthews was out due to an ankle injury at that time, too.
He returned the very next game, beginning a streak that stand to present day.
"You don't get to 183 without having to overcome a lot of challenges," Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom said. "Jake's done a great job. As his teammate, the biggest thing is if he plays or doesn't play, you always know that he's giving his best foot forward for his preparation."
Matthewsbroke the Falcons recordfor consecutive starts on Nov. 26, 2023, when he took the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints, surpassing Matt Ryan as the then-franchise leader. The Falcons won, 24-15. Matthews played 100% of Atlanta's offensive snaps.
There have actually only been 25 games in which Matthews did not take every single offensive snap for the Falcons. That's good for 14% of all his appearances.
One of those instances was Monday's Week 6 win against the Buffalo Bills. He played 54% of the Falcons' offensive snaps, which ranks as his fourth-lowest output ever. Matthews injured his ankle late in the second quarter and did not return in the second half.
Backup left tackle Michael Jerrell filled in for Matthews.
"I was like dang, big 70 has been holding it down for what 12, 13 years in the league," Jerrell said. "I'm pretty sure fans are so used to seeing him on the (left) side that when he goes down, it's like, 'Alright, alright, who's the next guy? He better do a good job, just like Jake.'"
Jerrell played the remaining 46% of the Falcons' offensive snaps.Atlanta won, 24-14.
"He knew all the play calls," Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said. "He knew everything that was going on, and he was out there confident."
Said Jerrell: "I was confident. I knew exactly what to do. I knew the game plan, knew what the coaches were doing."
The Falcons acquired Jerrell throughan offseason tradewith the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year. Atlanta sent a conditional 2027 seventh-round draft pick to Seattle as a part of the deal.
Jerrell is a former sixth-rounder from 2024. He played in 10 games, starting three, for the Seahawks as a rookie. One of those games was actually against Atlanta.
"Obviously that was his first game with us," Penix said, "but he's been nothing but great since he got here. He's worked extremely hard."
Atlanta will likely call upon Jerrell again if Matthews is a no-go Sunday. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson also mentioned rookie Jack Nelson as an option. Nelson has been listed as a backup right tackle onthe latest depth chartbut has a history playing on both sides ofthe line in college.
MorrisandMatthews, however, separately indicated Friday that they each feel really good about start No. 184 coming to fruition at Levi's Stadium this Sunday.
"Is he human?" Lindstrom said. "No. He's a machine."
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