Falcons’ Freeman happy to be healthy, with team
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The highlight of the Atlanta Falcons’ first week of organized team activities this spring has been Devonta Freeman’s return to the field.
“It’s been a long time,” coach Dan Quinn said.
Freeman looked explosive in Thursday’s practice, the first OTA session open to reporters. Having Freeman again flash his dual-threat skills at running back is good news for the Falcons’ hopes of returning to the playoffs.
Knee and groin injuries limited Freeman to only two games last season, when Atlanta missed the postseason for the first time in three years but fourth time in six. The Falcons had a long list of season-ending injuries to starters, including both safeties and both offensive guards, but losing Freeman had perhaps the biggest impact on the team going 7-9 for its first losing record since 2014.
Without Freeman, the Falcons’ ground game was stagnant, ranking only 27th in the NFL. The team’s other top running back from recent seasons, Tevin Coleman, signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent this year, so it was important for the Falcons to see Freeman in his No. 24 red jersey lining up beside Matt Ryan this week.
“It’s awesome,” the veteran quarterback said. “Free is such a dynamic player. … He looks great.”
Still working to complete their comebacks from 2018 injuries are starting safeties Ricardo Allen (Achilles’ tendon) and Keanu Neal (knee). Both worked on a side field with trainers during Wednesday’s session, but they could be ready for training camp this summer.
Freeman, 27, emerged with back-to-back 1,000yard rushing seasons in 2015 and 2016, when he also had a combined 127 catches for 1,040 yards.
He has struggled to stay on the field since signing a five-year, $41.25 million contract before the 2017 season. At the time it was the NFL’s richest contract for a running back. The deal’s total value still ranks third for his position, behind the Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley ($57.5 million) and the New York Jets’ Le’Veon Bell ($52.5 million).
The big contract for Freeman brought great expectations, making two straight years of injury woes even more frustrating. He missed two games in 2017 after his second concussion of the year, including one in the preseason, and was slowed by a knee injury as well. He was limited to 68 rushing yards in two games in 2018.
Freeman’s trademark smile was back Thursday, when he said the joy in football has returned.
“It felt good just to be out here running around and having fun,” he said. “This is fun. Just having fun running around brought back memories of when I was a kid, playing in the middle of the field. It was fun.”
Football wasn’t fun for Freeman last season. He bruised his right knee in the season-opening loss at Philadelphia, forcing him to miss three games, then landed on injured reserve (groin).
“It was tough,” Freeman said. “At the time I couldn’t see the blessing that God had for me. But it was definitely tough not being able to go out there and compete and battle with my brothers. Just seeing all those guys, every time I watched a game, it was like ‘Man, that was a missed opportunity for me.’
“I definitely took it to heart. I learned a lot from it, though.”