Falcons rookie Chris Lindstrom earning starting reps at right guard
By Seth Steere
![NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image of Chris Lindstrom of Boston College after he was chosen #14 overall by the Atlanta Falcons during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image of Chris Lindstrom of Boston College after he was chosen #14 overall by the Atlanta Falcons during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d9f65896ad78d84a1261eac286a234f762ee3759648454429105598e16746933.jpg)
The Atlanta Falcons have struggled on the interior of their offensive line in recent years, but they’ll look to sure things up with first-round pick Chris Lindstrom.
The Falcon’s held the 14th overall pick in the 2019 draft, ultimately selecting Chris Lindstrom, the offensive guard from Boston College. It was presumed that Atlanta would look to fix their offensive line play, but Lindstrom was viewed as a much later pick.
In college, Lindstrom played most of his snaps at right guard. In his 2017, his junior year, he spent 11 games at right tackle and only 2 at right guard; in 2018 he was moved back to right guard and finished the season at the position.
There were some questions as to where Lindstrom would start his NFL career with the Falcons’ additions in free agency; Jamon Brown, who has played his whole career at right guard, was added, as was James Carpenter, the left guard from the New York Jets.
With Lindstrom spending all of his college career on the right side, it’s easy to assume he’ll be battling for reps with Brown for the starting job.
Instead, Lindstrom has been taking all the reps at right guard and forced the veterans to battle it out for starting left guard according to an Atlanta Falcons writer, Will McFadden.
"“That rookie Chris Lindstrom has been manning the starting right guard spot by himself the past two days while Brown and Carpenter are splitting starting reps at the left guard position is interesting.”"
It is still early in training camp so Lindstorm’s fate is not yet sealed. He still has the rest of training camp and preseason to prove he can compete in the NFL, but with continued progress, we may get to see the rookie start during the Falcons opener against the Minnesota Vikings September 9th.