Weatherspoon works way back

Veteran linebacker sees limited playing time against Dallas.

FLOWERY BRANCH — One of the small items lost in the Falcons’ 27-7 win over the Cowboys was the return of reserve linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.

A one-time first-round pick, Weatherspoon got four snaps at linebacker and seven plays on special teams Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

After re-signing with the Falcons last season, Weatherspoon ruptured his Achil- les against Carolina and was placed on injured reserve.

After checking on him during training camp, the Falcons re-signed him Oct. 24. He was inactive against the Jets and the Panthers while working he way back into game shape.

“I felt pretty good, it was just a blessing to be out there,” Weatherspoon said, “Overall body came out good, ran around well; it was fun.” During his first three weeks with the Falcons, Weather- spoon practiced with the team and reacclimated him- self to game speed. “When you’re not with a team you can kind of do your own thing,” said Weatherspoon, who was drafted by the Falcons in the first round (19th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft. “(You can) wake (up) when you want to, then go get your work done. With a team it’s all on a schedule, it’s less flexible, and I’m grateful for that.” Weatherspoon is listed behind Deion Jones as the Falcons’ backup middle line- backer.

Coach Dan Quinn has seen Weatherspoon make an impact in ways that don’t appear in the box score.

“It’s the physicality in practice, it’s the messaging behind the scenes as a veteran player, he does a lot of those things,” Quinn said. “We’re pumped to have him back. His size and physicality are different from the other linebackers.”

It’s unclear where Weatherspoon will have the most impact this week and in the weeks to come, but one thing is for sure: he’s ready.

“I’m 100 percent, I’m there,” Weatherspoon said, “I’ll just do whatever they need me to do. If that’s lead- ing by example or vocally or in the background ... I’m ready to go.”