Right guard battle too close to call

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 20:  Terron Ward #28 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with teammates after rushing for a 5 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during a preseason game at Heinz Field on August 20, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Credit: Justin K. Aller

Credit: Justin K. Aller

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 20: Terron Ward #28 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with teammates after rushing for a 5 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during a preseason game at Heinz Field on August 20, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Falcons coach Dan Quinn, with the important third exhibition game looming on Saturday, is not ready to declare a winner in the battle for the starting right guard position.

He’s clearly concerned about pass protection from that spot, which became vacant when Chris Chester elected to retire over the offseason.

Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzer have been rotating at the position for all of the offseason and exhibition season.

Garland started the first game against Miami and Schweitzer started against Pittsburgh.

“I’d rather go through a couple of days here and see how their weeks goes,” Quinn said on Monday. “It’s kind of that close.”

Garland played some guard and center against the Steelers. That might be a tip-off because the backup must play both positions as most teams only carry seven linemen on their game-day 45-man roster.

“Both of them have really good run game stuff where they can get onto the second level and get guys,” Quinn said. “Wes is a little bigger and has a little more bulk. Ben has almost the same size, but when he latches on he can really latch onto a guy down the field with his quickness. They are a little different in that way. …We really have two players who are playing at a high level.”