FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga — Despite being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, Troy Andersen did not receive the all-clear to play in the Falcons' Week 5 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Thursday night.
Head coach Raheem Morris told reporters Wednesday afternoon that Andersen has been ruled out of the game.
Andersen left last Sunday's win over the Saints in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. After producing a career-high 16 tackles and his first pick-six, Andersen did not participate in any of the Falcons' walkthroughs or practices in the shortened prep for Week 5.
Without Andersen in the lineup and with Nate Landman still on injured reserve, the Falcons will rely on rookie inside linebacker JD Bertrand to fill in alongside Kaden Elliss.
The fifth-round draft pick took eight defensive snaps against New Orleans in Andersen's absence. Asked about Bertrand's preparedness to take over a starting role, defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said the staff feels confident there won't be a drop off in play.
"We can see and feel his football instincts," Lake said. "Once he arrived here, all of those traits showed up in practice. He got a few reps this last Sunday, played really well. Us as coaches, we're expecting no drop-off, if that happens, where he's going in there and going to play, we have a lot of confidence in JD."
In other injury report news, the Falcons did receive a bit of good news by way of Kaleb McGary's status. The Falcons' starting right tackle did not play Sunday after suffering a reported MCL sprain in Atlanta's Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
He was limited through the Falcons first two days of estimated injury reports this week, but was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. He did not receive a game designation, which means he is likely to return to his starting role on the Falcons offensive line. At the bare minimum, he will be available to the Falcons to do so. Storm Norton took the start at right tackle in McGary's absence last week, with Ryan Neuzil taking over for Drew Dalman at center. Dalman was placed on injured reserve last week.
Falcons offensive weapons Bijan Robinson (hamstring) and Ray-Ray McCloud III (ankle) were full participants in Wednesday's practice as well. Neither received a game designation, meaning they, too, will be active for Atlanta in prime time.
Rookie running back Jase McClellan was the only player limited Wednesday. He was deemed questionable for Thursday with an illness.
You can view the Falcons and Bucs weekly injury report ahead of Thursday's game here.
