Ty Sambrailo is finally healthy and believes he’s ready to show that he can handle NFL offensive line duties.
The former Colorado State standout was drafted by Denver in the second round (59th overall) in 2015. But things didn’t work out with the Broncos, and he was traded to the Falcons for a fifth-round pick Sept. 1.
With starting right tackle Ryan Schraeder in the NFL’s concussion protocol, Sambrailo is set to start against the Detroit Lions at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ford Field.
“Feeling good,” Sambrailo said. “Feeling healthy. I’m excited to finally be 100 percent and playing good football.”
Sambrailo started three games as a rookie before he suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve. The Broncos went on to win Super Bowl 50, and he received a ring.
Last season, Sambrailo played in 10 games and started in four, including the game against the Falcons where he was pulled in the third quarter after Vic Beasley broke loose for 3.5 sacks. Sambrailo was coming back from a hyperextended elbow injury, but didn’t make any excuses for his showing.
Sambrailo didn’t feel any additional pressure to succeed in Denver because he played collegiately in-state.
“I’ve always put enough pressure on myself,” Sambrailo said. “I was just kind of battling through some circumstances and trying to make the best of my situation. Some things worked out for me and I learned a lot. Some things didn’t and I also learned from those. I grew as person and as a player.”
The Falcons made the move for Sambrailo because they didn’t have any experienced backup tackles. Tom Compton, last season’s swing tackle, was allowed to leave via free agency. He signed with the Bears.
Sambrailo, 25, opened his rookie season as Denver’s left tackle, with Ryan Clady out injured.
Sambrailo, who’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, hopes to get his career back on track.
“I was thankful for my opportunity there, but I’m really happy that I’m here,” Sambrailo said. “I’m happy that the Falcons reached out and wanted me here. They saw what I’m capable of and now I just have to out and do it.”
Sambrailo has picked up the Falcons’ blocking system quickly.
“It similar to what (former coach Gary) Kubiak ran when he was in Denver,” Sambrailo said. “I don’t know what they are running know, but I’ve had 14 years of football knowledge piled together. It’s all the same, just different terminology.”
Sambrailo played 49 of the 58 offensive snaps (84 percent) against the Green Bay Packers after Schraeder suffered a concussion. He lay on the turf, face down, after throwing a block on Packers cornerback Davon House.
“Ty did a great job this last game of stepping up and playing really well,” center Alex Mack said.
The Falcons believe that Sambrailo will be ready to face the Lions.
“I have the utmost confidence in Ty,” left tackle Jake Matthews said. “He’s a good player. He’s only been here a couple of weeks, but he’s definitely on top of things. He’s done a good job.”
Sambrailo is from Watsonville, Calif., and was a two-way high school player for St. Francis Central Cost Catholic High. He won the league’s defensive and offensive player of the year award.
Sambrailo played defensive tackle and nose guard. He was a two-star recruit in the same class as Matthews and picked Colorado State over Sacramento State, Southern Utah, and Weber State.
Sambrailo is trying to have a solid week of practice.
“The way we practice here is full speed,” Sambrailo said. “So, going into last week I knew that if I had to go in, I was ready. Unfortunately, Ryan got knocked out and I had to go in and play. I felt confident and ready just from the way that we practice.”
Sambrailo will play next to Wes Schweitzer, who’ll be making his third NFL start. He played much better against Green Bay after struggling against Chicago in the season opener.
“It’s nice playing with him,” Sambrailo said. “I got mixed in quite a bit over the past two weeks at both tackles. I was kind of ready to play where ever I needed to.”
Sambrailo has been learning from offensive line coach Chris Morgan.
“He’s been great,” Sambrailo said. “He’s very particular in the way that he wants things done, the team is very particular in the way they want things done and the way they want it to look on film. I know exactly what I need to do and I know exactly how it should look.”
