Falcons Star OL Chris Lindstrom Enters Concussion Protocol After Rough Opening Loss

The Atlanta Falcons are already licking their wounds after a brutal opening weekend, and now the headache is literal.

According to ESPN's Marc Raimondi, star offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom has been placed in the NFL's concussion protocol.

"Marc Raimondi reported: 'Stefanski: Chris Lindstrom is in concussion protocol. #Falcons'"

Losing your anchor in the trenches is never good news, but the timing here is especially rough for Atlanta. The Falcons are coming off a 20-13 rock fight loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday where the offense looked like it was running in wet cement.

Lindstrom isn't just a guy on the roster. He is the foundational piece of that offensive line. When you are trying to fix an offense that just managed 13 points in a modern NFL game, subtracting your best blocker is the exact opposite of a solution.

For anyone looking at the Falcons' upcoming lines, this is the kind of injury that quietly swings matchups. Skill players get the headlines, but missing an elite guard is exactly how drives stall out on third-and-short and force punts instead of points.

Lindstrom will now have to clear the league's mandatory multi-step protocol before he can even think about getting back on the field. Until he gets the green light from an independent neurologist, Atlanta's offensive game plan is going to require some serious duct tape.