Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler returns to practice field

Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler, who had a sprained ankle, returned to practice Wednesday. Fowler, who signed a three-year $48 million contract in free agency, worked out with most of the defensive line group and position coach Jess Simpson during the open portion of practice.

Tight end Khari Lee (undisclosed), left guard Matt Hennessey (right knee), linebacker Mykal Walker (undisclosed) and defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (knee sprain) were held out of practice. Falcons coach Dan Quinn said none of the injuries were “long term.”

Fowler and Davidson were major offseason pickups for the defensive line. The Falcons hope Fowler, who had 11.5 sacks last season, can replace Vic Beasley and revive the team’s pass rush. Davidson was projected to play at tackle alongside Grady Jarrett in passing situations but may take two weeks to get his game condition and is in danger of missing the season opener. The Falcons haven’t had a player with double-digit sacks since Beasley had 15.5 in 2016. Beasley wasn’t re-signed in free agency.

Things to know about the Falcons this week:

1. The no-spin zone. Last season, the Falcons had a fully back-loaded NFC South schedule. By the time they got to division play, they essentially were eliminated from the playoffs after their 1-7 start.

The team rallied to go 6-2 over the final eight games and earn second place in the division. But with Drew Brees returning in New Orleans and six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady landing in Tampa Bay, the Falcons have been a mere afterthought in the ramp-up to the start of the 2020 season.

If the Falcons can’t handle the NFC North teams in the first half of the season, the NFC South won’t mean much again. Over their first eight games, the Falcons play four games against the NFC North — Chicago, at Green Bay, at Minnesota and Detroit. They also play Seattle and at Dallas and two games against Carolina.

If the Falcons can make it to the halfway point this season in better shape than last year, then they can worry about Brady and Brees.

Over the final eight games, they have four games against the AFC West — Denver, Las Vegas, at Los Angeles Chargers and at Kansas City — and two games apiece against New Orleans and Tampa Bay.

“It’s been a highly competitive division since I’ve been in the league,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “Every game that we play against each other in the NFC South is really intense.”

“Every year it changes, but it’s been fun to have some new additions to the NFC South,” Jarrett said. “We’ll get to see some new faces. So, for me that’s good. I just know it’s going to be highly competitive every time. Any time you get the opportunity to play against top players, it’s always fun and brings out the best in you, as it always should.”

The Falcons don’t mind that New Orleans and Tampa Bay are drawing most of the attention in the division.

“The attention ain’t going to win you no games,” Jarrett said. “We’re focused on being the best organization that we can be. Everything else is going to take care of itself.”

Don’t mention Brady to Jarrett, either.

“We don’t even see them guys until the 15th week of the season, so we can’t be over here worried about Tampa the whole year,” Jarrett said. “We have a lot of people ahead of us. A lot of games ahead of us.

“We are taking it week by week. We are just trying to compete with ourselves while we are in training camp, to make us the best team that we can be. Then when it’s time to go to work. We are going to handle each team, week by week.”

2. Final scrimmage. The Falcons will work on some situations and take a final look at some players on the bubble in the final scrimmage today at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

3. The return of Ito Smith. Coach Dan Quinn, who believes the backfield committee will vary on a game-by-game basis, has been pleased with the return of running back Ito Smith. “He always had a fantastic feel for vision and seeing blocks,” Quinn said. “I think as a running back you just need to (run) over and over again the different plays. That way, ’OK, I want to see how this sets up against this look. See how this sets up against the next look.’ ”

Quinn sounded like legendary coach Herman Boone, who in the movie “Remember the Titans” said: “I run six plays, split veer. It’s like Novocaine . ... Just give it time, it always works.”

“We don’t have a ton of plays, but there are some different looks,” Quinn said. “It’s a matter of just continuing to push that over and over again to get the feel; the line to get to know him and where he likes to cut because sometimes that can affect where a play goes. So, I think just that chemistry between the line, the tight ends, the fullback and the runners. You just need time go through those.”