Jake Matthews’ streak is hanging in the balance, but the Falcons may have caught a break at the right time.
Atlanta’s longtime left tackle is dealing with a groin injury that showed up in the Week 4 win over the Saints, and his availability for Sunday’s Week 5 matchup with the Ravens remains up in the air. Matthews is sitting on 199 straight starts, a run that began in Week 2 of his rookie season back in 2014. If he gets on the field again, he’ll hit 200 consecutive starts - a mark ESPN’s Marc Raimondi noted would make him just the fifth offensive lineman in NFL history to reach that number.
The Falcons haven’t locked anything in yet. Kevin Stefanski said he’ll use “the next 50 hours or so” to keep evaluating Matthews, and while Atlanta clearly wants its starting left tackle available against Baltimore, Stefanski has taken the cautious route with injuries. That’s especially true with a 34-year-old lineman, and he has already said he feels good about Michael Jerrell stepping in if needed.
Matthews’ practice progression points in the right direction. He sat out Wednesday, returned as limited on Thursday, and then was full on Friday.
Even so, he stayed on the final injury report and was listed as questionable for Week 5, so the streak still isn’t officially safe. Still, a full practice late in the week usually says plenty.
If Matthews does suit up, he won’t have to deal with the Ravens’ biggest edge threat. Trey Hendrickson has been ruled out with a finger injury after not practicing all week, and it’s his second straight missed game because of it. With Baltimore also ruling out Lamar Jackson, Hendrickson’s absence is another important development for Atlanta.
That matters for an offensive line trying to keep Michael Penix Jr. upright. Hendrickson is a four-time Pro Bowler who piled up 42 sacks between 2023 and 2025, and he had the kind of presence that can wreck a game plan fast. Instead, second-year pass-rusher Mike Green is expected to start in his place, and he doesn’t carry nearly the same fear factor.
Even so, the Falcons know Matthews still has to hold up his end if he plays. Hendrickson ranks eighth among all edge rushers in pass-rush win rate with 15 wins, and he’s produced 14 pressures, which would tie Samson Ebukam for the most on Atlanta. Given the way Matthews has started to become a liability in pass protection, the matchup would not be an easy one if Hendrickson were active.
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