Every player in the NFL has their own routine on game day, but Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews had to call an audible ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Panthers in Charlotte when he woke to 10 missed calls and the news that his wife, Meggi, went into labor at 5 a.m.
Matthews immediately made his way back to Atlanta to witness the birth of his first child, a baby boy named Beckett. In what will be a day the Matthews family remembers forever, the Falcons stalwart along the offensive line was quickly back en route back to Charlotte ahead of Thursday Night Football with some assistance from owner Arthur Blank.
The proud new dad boarded Blank’s private jet around 5 p.m., according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, with kickoff coming up at Bank of America Stadium at 8:15.
If everything goes according to plan, the 2014 1st-round pick will make his 142nd straight start for the Falcons. Heading into tonight, Atlanta is already down to their 3rd-string left guard Colby Gossett following injuries to Elijah Wilkinson and Matt Hennessy.
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