Jack Nelson had a pretty regrettable preseason, but nothing overly unexpected from a seventh-round offensive line selection. Each game, Nelson seemed to settle in a little more and more. That being said, it seemed inevitable that the Atlanta Falcons would try to move him to the practice squad after the preseason. Then, star tackle Kaleb McGary went to the IR needing surgery for his injury. That made way for Nelson to start the season on the 53-man roster.
While McGary is the big name that went down with an injury, Storm Norton, the backup swing tackle, will also miss considerable time due to injury. The Falcons are scrambling with offensive line depth. The team even made a trade for offensive tackle Michael Jerrell from the Seattle Seahawks.
Former Wisconsin OT Jack Nelson provides solid depth for the Atlanta Falcons
Related: Former Wisconsin OL Joe Huber defies odds to earn place on Vikings’ 53-man roster
In all that shuffle, former Badger Jack Nelson provides depth even if he's still a work in progress. He won't be the tackle to replace McGary, but as the Falcons become thinner and thinner, his presence on the bench and knowledge (at least at a preseason level) of the offensive blocking schemes give him a preference.
Many still speculate that Jack Nelson will find his way onto the practice squad as the Falcons figure out how to replace McGary, and that Nelson will go back to a developmental piece. However, if injuries continue to give him opportunities, he may fully step into embracing the role and become an outstanding tackle at the NFL level.
He was a star tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers, part of a unit that allowed only 13 sacks on the season, his senior year, which was the fewest in the Big Ten. The prowess is there; it's the confidence and the comfort level that need to come at the NFL level.