Defensive end/tackle Jack Crawford will replace Grady Jarrett in the starting lineup, Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday.
Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett was declared out of the Sunday's game against the Steelers with an ankle sprain.
“The plan would be Jack Crawford, that’s who plays a lot of nickel three-technique,” Quinn said on Wednesday.
The Falcons signed defensive tackle Michael Bennett and released Justin Zimmer on Tuesday.
Jarrett went down with 3:19 left in the third quarter Sunday against the Bengals and did not return. He played only 37 of 73 defensive snaps (51 percent) in the game.
» More: 5 questions with Jack Crawford
Crawford, 30, was signed by the Falcons in March of 2017 as a free agent when the team was looking for help along the defensive line.
Crawford, who’s 6-foot-5, and 288 pounds, started 11 games and played in all 16 for the Cowboys in 2016. He played 529 snaps (50 percent) and 102 special-teams snaps (23.1 percent).
Crawford, rookie Deadrin Senat and Terrell McClain will split most of the defensive tackle snaps.
“It’s not too much for him,” Quinn said of Senat. “We are going to keep him right where he’s at the nose tackle spot. He’ll definitely have more plays than he’s had before. But those three will get a big part of the rotation.”
Crawford played in four games last season before being lost for the season with a torn pectoral injury.
Crawford was a fifth-round pick by the Raiders in 2012. He played at Penn State.
He’s played in 65 NFL games, with 13 starts.
Bennett, 25, who’s 6-2 and 287 pounds, was a sixth-round pick by Jacksonville in 2015. A former player at Ohio State, Bennett has played in 14 NFL games, but has no starts.
“We also signed Michael Bennett on the defensive side,” Quinn said. “Steven Means as a backup will rotate some into that space. All those guys are going to be helpful in nickel and we’re going to need every bit of it in terms of pass rush. (The Steelers) are equipped to throw it and they are doing it at a high level.”
Jarrett will become the fourth defensive starter to miss some action because of injury this season.
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