The Falcons were greeted with some devastating news on Wednesday. One of their first-round picks, Kaleb McGary, will undergo a minimally invasive cardiac ablation procedure this afternoon, the team site announced.Â
Atlanta packaged their second and third-round selections to move back into the first-round and draft McGary with the 31st overall pick. The right tackle out of the University of Washington was working with the second team during training camp, but Dan Quinn expressed that he was doing a fantastic job pushing Ty Sambrailo for the starting job.
These cardiac issues aren’t new to McGary. He has undergone two similar surgeries in the past, which is discouraging from not only the Falcons standpoint but for McGary’s health and career going forward.
The Falcons have yet to announce a timetable for a return but have not ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Although, for a team that suffered so many injuries last year, this is the last thing they wanted to hear, especially after already losing J.J Wilcox and Michael Bennett to IR. For a better reference of how long it might take for McGary to return to action, Dale Ferrell provides us with an explanation.
How long does it take to heal after a cardiac ablation?
The burns irritate the heart, and as they heal (expand), over days/weeks, the irregular rhythm can resolve. This is why we have what's called a waiting period (6-8 weeks) after the procedure before we declare success–or not.— Dale Ferrell (@DMF1120) July 31, 2019
From his words, this is going to be a lengthy and tentative process. More than anything, we at SportsTalkATL wish McGary a safe a speedy recovery.