FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has entered the league's concussion protocol and will not play in Atlanta's second preseason game versus the Steelers, according to head coach Dan Quinn.
"He reportedly had some concussion symptoms so we put him in the protocol for that and he'll be out this week," Quinn said. "He may start practicing as we go but we'll rule him out now for the game as more of a precautionary note."
Freeman was absent from Atlanta's final training camp practice after leaving Sunday's practice early with "heat-related" symptoms.
The day after signing a five-year contract extension with the Falcons, Freeman wasted no time finding his way back into the end zone, scoring Atlanta's first touchdown of the preseason. Showing a glimpse of that “disrespectful” running style he said he wants to play with this season.
Following a successful 2016 season in which he ran for 1,079 yards, the Pro Bowl running back wanted to come back to work in tip-top shape – in his mind that meant a bigger, faster, stronger version of himself.
And he's showed that on a daily basis during training camp.
"He's had a great camp," Quinn said. "The speed that he's playing with, not just in the run game but in the pass game as well."
