Jackson released after two seasons

Freeman likely to be a full-time running back in Quinn’s system.

The Falcons released veteran running back Steven Jackson on Thursday night, the team confirmed.

Jackson played two seasons for the Falcons. He voided his contract with the Rams in 2013 to become a free agent and signed a three-year deal worth $12 million with the Falcons on March 13 of that year. A total of $4 million of the contract was guaranteed.

The Falcons hoped that Jackson (6-foot-3, 229 pounds) would help replace Michael Turner, who was released after spending five productive seasons with the team.

Jackson’s pass-catching ability was lauded by the Falcons, but a dropped pass that would have been a touch-

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down in his first game with the team, against New Orleans, foreshadowed that his stay would not be very productive.

He was beset with injuries in 2013 and 2014, playing 12 and 15 games respectively. He had 347 carries for 1,250 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns. He caught 53 passes for 339 yards and one touchdown.

Jackson’s release was expected after both general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn sang the praises of another running back, Devonta Freeman, recently at the NFL scouting combine.

“Yes, no question,” was Dimitroff ’s response when asked if Freeman could be a full-time running back in the team’s new outside-zone blocking system.

Quinn said: “My first impression of him is that you can feel the quickness. In our out- side-zone system, I feel like this is tailor-made for a guy who can really explode off the edge.”

New coordinator Kyle Shanahan also is a fan of Freeman’s running style.

“Devonta is someone that I loved coming out of college last year,” Shanahan said. “Then the guy from Oregon State ( Jacquizz Rodgers), I loved him coming out of college.”

The Falcons re-signed fullback Patrick DiMarco on Tuesday. Running backs Antone Smith and Rodgers are set to enter free agency if they don’t reach contract extensions with the team by March 10.

The running back class for the coming draft is considered to be deep.

Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Georgia’s Todd Gurley are considered the top backs available. Alabama’s T. J. Yeldon, South Carolina’s Mike Davis, Northern Iowa’s David Johnson and Indiana’s Tevin Coleman also are considered strong NFL prospects.