FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons have had one player come off of injured reserve this season as Deion Jones made his first start since Week 1 last Sunday against the Ravens, but they could potentially get another player back later this year.
Per the NFL's rules, a team is allowed to activate a two players off of IR, and running back Devonta Freeman might be the second guy to return for the Falcons. Freeman has been battling injuries all season long and played in just two games before going on IR in Week 7. Although the Falcons could at best finish the season with a .500 record, coach Dan Quinn said there was "definitely" a chance the Falcons decide to bring him back.
"He did weeks of the rehab in Philadelphia," Quinn said. "He's back and doing well, and we're just going to take it week by week and see where he can progress to ... We're not ruling anything out, for sure. We'll just see where he's at, but he's definitely made a lot of progress."
NFL policy mandates that eight games must pass before a player can be take off of IR. Because Freeman was placed on IR prior to the New York Giants game in Week 7, the earliest he could return to game action would be in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers.
Atlanta currently averages 79 yards on the ground, which is last among all NFL teams.
