Snelling ready to try to fill Turner's cleats

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Backup running back Jason Snelling is preparing to start for Michael Turner against the New York Giants on Sunday.

"My approach is that I'm going to be coming in and starting this game," said Snelling on Wednesday. "That's the mind-set that I have to have this week."

Turner suffered a high ankle sprain against Carolina and did not practice. He would not rule himself out of Sunday's game.

"I don't have a time frame on the injury," Turner said. "I'm not going to count myself out right now. It's only Wednesday. I'm going to take a couple of days. Later on in the week, I'll know for sure if I'll be able to play or not."

Falcons coach Mike Smith remains hopeful that Turner will recuperate.

"We're hoping that he will continue to progress," Smith said. "He has made a lot of strides in 48 hours or so since the end of the game."

The Falcons also re-signed Aaron Stecker, and he expects his role to increase.

"I can pick up where I left off," Stecker said. "I can stay a little extra and watch a little more film, knowing that I will have a bigger role."

Turner, the Falcons' leading rusher who helped power them to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance last season, went down in the second quarter against the Panthers. He had averaged 9.1 yards per carry over his past 47 carries (against Dallas, Washington and Carolina).

Turner's ankle was put through several medical tests Monday.

"They didn't tell me anything about the tests," Turner said. "Just an ankle sprain. They didn't say no degrees or weeks or anything like that. It's different for every person. They just tell you what it is, and you've got to deal with it."

Running back Jerious Norwood looks like a longshot to be ready to play against the Giants. He has missed the past four games with a hip flexor.

"Jerious ran [Tuesday], and we got him some running on the side [Wednesday]," Smith said. "That will be the first time that he's really run back to back. We're anxious to see if we can get him back out here tomorrow."

While Turner and Norwood are ailing, Snelling is ready to step into the lead role.

"I know that my team is counting on me to step up and make plays from the tailback position," Snelling said. "That's what I intend to do."

Etc.

* Defensive tackle Thomas Johnson started against the Panthers and played well in his first game back from a calf injury. His role will expand against the Giants, according to Smith.

* Tye Hill and Brent Grimes are competing for the starting left cornerback spot. "We are not real settled on the left corner position right now," Smith said.

* Sunday's game will be the Falcons' fourth against a team coming off a bye week. "The league sets the schedule up, and it's our job to play it," linebacker Mike Peterson said.

* Wide receiver Troy Bergeron was re-signed to the practice squad. He was released Monday to make room for Stecker.