The Falcons backup quarterback A.J. McCarron suffered a season-ending ACL injury last Saturday against the Dolphins. After handing the ball off to running back Qadree Ollison, McCarron clutched his knee and began hobbling off the field. Before reaching the sidelines, he was met by doctors and trainers who examined him in the blue tent before being sent to the locker room.
“I really feel for AJ McCarron,” the Falcons head coach, Arthur Smith, said. “Any time something like that happens and it’s non-contact, it’s tough when you know what these guys put into it. I feel for AJ. We’ll obviously get the MRI to confirm, but he’s heartbroken.”
The former college standout had completed three of six passes for 43 yards up to that point. It is unclear whether the tear was impacted by the previous play, when he ran for seven yards before taking a big hit from Miami linebacker Sam Eguavoen.
McCarron’s injury complicates the team’s quarterback. Starter Matt Ryan and undrafted rookie Feleipe Franks are the remaining QBs on the Falcon’s depth chart.
Smith has indicated that the team would look into other quarterbacks on the market if McCarron were to be out for a long time. Notable QBs include Alex Smith, Robert Griffin III, Blake Bortles, Josh Rosen, Ryan Findley, Case Cookus, Jake Rudock, Jamie Newman and K.J. Costello.
“You’re always going to look to improve the team. So, we have to assess and see what the injury is. Until you get a MRI, we’ve seen things happen before. It was quick,” Smith said. “But anytime we are always looking to improve the roster. If it is long-term, we’ll continue to look there.”
