Jacksonville — Falcons kicker Jason Elam thought about running onto the field as Atlanta drove to the 5-yard line, down three points to Jacksonville, with 17 seconds left in Saturday's preseason opener.

Coach Mike Smith vetoed that. He not only wanted to play for the victory over his former team, he didn't want to play for overtime. The Falcons failed to score and fell 20-17 to the Jaguars.

Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Former Georgia running back Thomas Brown, a sixth-round draft pick, returned three kickoffs for an average of 20.7 yards. He returned the game-opening kick 28 yards after catching it a yard deep in the end zone.

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"I wanted to win that game," Smith said. Jaguars coach "Jack [Del Rio] said, 'I love you, man, for not trying that field goal there.' There is no need in the preseason for guys to play for overtime.

"We'd gotten what we wanted to get done out of it."

Elam, acquired after spending 15 seasons with Denver, missed two of three field goals, from 52 and 49 yards, and made a 36-yarder.

Grimes gets tested

Though Jaguars quarterbacks David Garrard and Cleo Lemon repeatedly threw passes to Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes' side of the field, the undrafted free agent held his own. Grimes is the leading candidate to replace DeAngelo Hall at left cornerback. Unofficially, Grimes had six tackles and one spectacular pass defensed in the end zone where he went up and nearly intercepted the ball.

Abraham injured

Defensive end John Abraham sprained his right foot in the first half of the game and did not return. He left the stadium in a walking boot but said he was okay.

"John just tweaked his foot a little bit," Smith said. "He informed me he was fine at halftime and after the game."

Smith said that he has not received the full medical report on players immediately after the game.

Finneran busy

Wide receiver Brian Finneran, making a comeback after missing two seasons with a torn knee ligament, caught a pass for an 8-yard gain from Matt Ryan with 57 seconds left in the second quarter. He finished with three receptions for 33 yards with a long of 19 yards.

Brown's returns

Former Georgia running back Thomas Brown, a sixth-round draft pick, returned three kickoffs for an average of 20.7 yards. He returned the game-opening kick 28 yards after catching it a yard deep in the end zone.

Wide receivers Adam Jennings and Eric Weems returned kickoffs in the second half.

Two return punts

The punt return job is up for grabs. Jennings, who did the job most of last season, got first crack. He was forced to fair catch his first attempt and barely grabbed the second near the sideline. Grimes was given a chance at the end of the first half, but the ball sailed out of bounds as he caught it.

Two starters out

Wide receiver Laurent Robinson (tailbone) and cornerback Chris Houston (shoulder) did not play because of injuries that kept them out most of the week. Michael Jenkins started for Robinson. Rookie Chevis Jackson started in place of Houston.