NFC Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Vikings

Falcons

• According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, Falcons first-round OT Kaleb McGary watched practice from the sideline following his heart procedure. 
• Falcons HC Dan Quinn said the doctors are pleased with McGary’s progress. There’s no set timeline for this kind of procedure, so the team plans to wait and see how McGary does before working him back onto the field, per Ian Rapoport.
• Quinn says G James Carpenter‘s injury isn’t long-term. (Vaughn McClure) 

Panthers

• Panthers LB Luke Kuechly sat out for a few practices but says he did not suffer a concussion, per the Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue: “I know what you guys are going to ask, but my head is fine. I was never in the protocol.”
• Kuechly said the team is just being cautious with him, though he wanted to go back in: “I just get bored.” (Max Henson)
• Panthers QB Kyle Allen will start the preseason opener. (Henson)
• Kuechly and Panthers QB Cam Newton will not play against Chicago. (Joseph Person)
• Fifth-round RB Jordan Scarlett also won’t play Thursday with a sore back, per HC Ron Rivera. (Rodrigue)

Vikings

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph and QB Kirk Cousins struggled to connect at times last season. Cousins was used to throwing to smaller, quicker tight ends during his time with the Redskins, while at 6-6 Rudolph profiles more as a jump-ball and red zone specialist. So far during camp, the two say they’re more on the same page and Cousins says he’s learning to trust Rudolph more and just put the ball up there.

“Kirk’s never played with a tight end of the body type that I have,” Rudolph said on NFL Network. “Kirk played with smaller guys that are quicker than I am, run routes differently. We didn’t really have an offseason together last year, I was coming off ankle surgery, spent most of the spring rehabbing. Now we’ve had a full season together, a full offseason. And it’s just being on the same page. He knows that I can make catches that some of the other guys that he played with in the past couldn’t. And also I have more vertical separation than he’s used to having. “