Injuries have plagued Atlanta's D-line this summer, particular at the end spot.

Neither starting end has played in a preseason game yet, left-side starter Patrick Kerney missing the first with a strained groin muscle, and the second with a sprained right knee. Right-side starter Brady Smith, meanwhile, has practiced just once in 20 days because of a bruised knee that may have some other problems, too.

Beyond this, backup Will Overstreet's on injured reserve for the third season in a row with a left shoulder injury. Also, Karon Riley, a converted linebacker who started the first two games on the right side, went down Friday night with a groin pull that figures to sideline him for a while.

Since camp began, the Falcons have signed undrafted free agent Clarence "Junior" Glymph, who missed the Aug. 20 game against Minnesota after being hospitalized a couple days earlier with a viral infection, and rookie free agent Kevin Emanuel of Florida State. He'd been released by the Cowboys.

It's a good bet the Falcons will be watching the waiver wires closely, and they might listen to trade offers for help at defensive end.

The backup left end, by the way, is 33-year old Travis Hall, a former tackle.

It looked like Atlanta had problems at defensive tackle early in camp, as starting nose tackle Ed Jasper missed time with a couple leg injuries. But rookie Chad Lavalais has played quite well, and Antwan Lake, who played in nine games for the Lions as a rookie free agent in 2002, has been good.

Plus, Hall could move inside in a pinch.