FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant suffered an injury before the team's loss to the Carolina Panthers, the 42-year-old told the media on Monday.
Bryant, who is the team's all-time leading scorer, admitted he suffered a lower body injury after the national anthem while taking practice kicks. He said it was something in hindsight that was nagging him. Bryant made a 53-yard field goal on the team's first drive to put the Falcons on the board, but he said he felt it then.
"The first field goal, it was a challenge," Bryant said. "During warm up kick after national anthem...that’s when I really felt something not be 100 percent right."
He told head coach Dan Quinn on the sideline and the other coaches so they could game plan around his absence. They shortened his range, but if he needed to by the fourth quarter he believed he could have matched his 53-yard field goal (his career high is 62). Bryant still kicked extra points, but there was a time in the first half where the team unsuccessfully went for it on fourth down rather than putting Bryant out for a field goal try.
"I didn't want to go out there and put myself in a position and like fail," Bryant said. "And by doing that, put your team in a bad spot."
Bryant has battled with a back injury the last few weeks, but he has not missed any games. He said he is day-to-day and will get treatment on Tuesday. That's when he'll have a better idea of whether or not he can kick on Sunday when the Falcons host the Dallas Cowboys.
Bryant is 15-for-18 on field goals this season and 100 percent on extra points. His longest this season is 53 yards.
The Falcons have kicker Mike Meyer on the practice squad.
