Baker begins rehab on back

Flowery Branch —- Falcons left tackle Sam Baker has returned to Georgia and started his rehabilitation after having discectomy surgery on his lower back last week in California.

He has begun limited rehabilitation, coach Mike Smith said Wednesday, but he declined to give a timetable for Baker’s return.

“Until we really get him going in the rehab process, we’re not going to really know exactly how long it’s going to be,” Smith said. “But at this point, we’re optimistic the procedure went well according to the doctors and he started his rehab. … But we’re thinking it’s going to be sooner than later.”

Baker injured his hip in practice on Oct. 22. He tried to play against Philadelphia but was a game-time scratch. He saw two hip specialists before it was determined he needed back surgery.

Baker has started five games this season and played a major role in helping the offensive line cut down on sacks allowed and helped the rushing attack, which leads the league in rushing at 163.4 yards per game.

Baker, a first-round draft pick and 21st player taken overall in 2008, has missed three games and parts of two others because of the hip injury and a concussion.

In other injury news, running back Jason Snelling did not practice Wednesday because of a non-football related illness, Smith said. Defensive tackle Grady Jackson (knee), center Todd McClure (back) and left tackle Todd Weiner (knee) were limited in practice.

Game sold out

The Falcons will play New Orleans before a sold out Georgia Dome at 1 p.m. on Sunday, team officials announced.

This is an important NFC South Division battle for the Falcons, who are 5-3 overall, 0-2 in the division.

The Saints, who are coming off their bye week, are 4-4, 1-1.

Ryan awarded

Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan was named NFC offensive player of the week for his performance against Oakland.

Ryan completed 17 of 22 passes (.773) for 220 yards, two touchdowns and had a 138.4 quarterback rating in a 24-0 Falcons win on Sunday. His two touchdown passes marked his third multiple-touchdown game this season.

Ryan set first-half season highs with 184 passing yards and an 81.3 completion percentage. His final completion percentage of 77.3 is a career-high along with his passer rating of 138.4, which also ranks as the fifth-highest total for a quarterback in the NFL this season.

Ryan was named NFC rookie of the month for October after guiding the Falcons to a 2-1 record.

It is the third time this season that a Falcon has won the weekly award. Running back Michael Turner was named conference offensive player of the week following the team’s wins over Detroit and Kansas City.

Ryan and linebacker Curtis Lofton were on the midseason all-rookie team compiled by Gil Brandt of NFL.com and posted on the league’s Web site Wednesday.

New punt returner

Rookie wide receiver Harry Douglas replaced Adam Jennings as the Falcons punt returner last week.

“Coach wants us to use wise judgment while we are back there,” Douglas said. “Catch the ball. If you have to fair catch the ball, fair catch the ball.”

Douglas was the primary punt returner in college at Louisville.

“But I returned it several times,” Douglas said. “There is probably more space because the gunners are double (teamed) in the pros. In college they are singled.”

Milloy rested

The Saints are coming off their bye week, but the Falcons feel pretty rested after their easy win against the Raiders.

“Yeah, that was my easiest game in my 13-year career,” safety Lawyer Milloy said. “Besides the fullback trying to cut block me a couple of times, I really didn’t have that much contact. It was something that you never expect.”

Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter contributed to this story.