Atlanta’s running game powered a quick start this season. The Falcons won four of their first six games, thanks to their ground success.
Woodbridge High’s Matt Lehr played a role in that. But he also played a role in the skid that followed. Lehr, a left guard, was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He tested positive for steroids.
“He was playing OK, not great [before the suspension],” Falcons coach Jim Mora said. “We were all disappointed in it, but no one more than he was.”
In the five games he missed (he was inactive for the fifth one as he rounded into shape), Atlanta went 1-4 and averaged 168.4 yards on the ground, or 54 yards less per outing.
It wasn’t just Lehr, who started last week, as Atlanta’s other starting guard, Kynan Forney, also is out.
The 6-foot-2, 304-pound Lehr, a fifth-round pick by Dallas in 2001 cut by the Cowboys in December of 2004, started 15 games last season for the Falcons.
“It’s good to have Matt back,” Falcons running back Warrick Dunn said. “He knows the game and understands what we’re trying to accomplish better. He got his feet wet coming back last week. I hope he’s more sound and we’re moving back in the direction we want to be going.”
