Kaleb McGary ‘could’ be back by training camp, per Kevin Stefanski
The Falcons hope to have their starting right tackle back this summer, but need to have a contingency plan.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 05: Kaleb McGary #76 of the Atlanta Falcons runs out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Atlanta Falcons have played fast and loose with their tackle situation for a long time now. Jake Matthews has been so durable, Kaleb McGary good enough when he’s healthy, and Storm Norton a fine enough fill-in that the team has not made any serious moves to shore up their tackle depth since they signed Norton away from the Saints practice squad in 2023.
Prior to that and after that, it’s been a series of one-year salves and bandages ranging from Mike Jerrell to Elijah Wilkinson to Jason Spriggs to Rick Leonard, with the occasional late speculative pick or undrafted free agent like Jack Nelson thrown in. I mention that depth issue because it may become relevant in 2026 again. Storm Norton is returning from a major injury, Mike Jerrell didn’t show much in very limited action, Nelson is still a second-year pro with uncertain upside, and McGary is returning from a significant injury of his own.
Today, Kevin Stefanski told reporters that McGary could be back for training camp. Stefanski said there is hope that RT Kaleb McGary (knee) could be ready for training camp. #Falcons — Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) March 30, 2026 I want you to notice the framing here, because it feels important.
This is not “we’ll have him back by training camp” and not “we’ll take it one day at a time,” so I would say Stefanski is hopeful he will indeed have McGary back some 11 months after he was injured in August 2025. Hope is great, but the lack of certainty here points to a fundamental problem: The Falcons don’t know McGary will be back in time for training camp, which by extension means they don’t know he’ll be fully healthy and ramped up for the start of the regular season. I would expect that he will be, sure, but there’s months to go and clarity won’t come until we’re closer to that return.