Flowery Branch — Falcons wide receiver Brian Finneran hopes to clear a major hurdle to returning to the NFL after a two-year hiatus Saturday night against Jacksonville.

"It will be my first real taste of getting tackled and facing live bullets," said Finneran, who's battling back from two major anterior cruciate ligament surgeries that cost him the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

AP (ENLARGE)

Brian Finneran, after missing two seasons with an ACL tear in the same knee, has had a strong training camp.

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In 2006, he tore the ACL in his left knee while working in a one-on-one drill against ex-Falcon Jimmy Williams in training camp.

Last season, the replacement ligament gave way in training camp while Finneran was running all alone on the practice field in training camp.

"Tearing it the second time was probably the low point," Finneran said. "Then different parts of the rehab process whether if it was trying to bend you knee to certain degrees or getting the functional movement back."

Finneran and the Falcons' medical staff changed plans for the second surgery.

"It was a cadaver ligament," Finneran said. "So we went a different route the second time. We used my own tissue and patellar tendon stuff. It worked out good, and everything is solid. My patellar tendon is my new ACL."

The Falcons have added several receivers since Finneran went down, and Roddy White has developed into a 1,000-yard receiver. Michael Jenkins is now a solid pro, and Laurent Robinson shows a lot of promise.

"I went through a lot of hard work over the last couple of years trying to get back from these knee injuries," Finneran said. "The odds are definitely stacked against me. So far I feel pretty good. I'm making some plays out here. I hope I can do enough to stick around for a year or two."

This season, Finneran hasn't had any trouble in training camp thus far. He gets an occasional practice off if he needs to rest his knee.

"This will be a great story if Brian makes it all the way back," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "He's done a great job with his rehabilitation."

Understandably, Finneran makes sure to show the left knee some special attention.

"I'll ice a little bit longer," Finneran said. "I'll work on a few things with the knee. They have been taking care of me pretty good. If soreness comes up, I can talk to the coaches, and they will take care of me."

Finneran admits there are some mental issues in dealing with his recovery. One tough spot could occur if he's required — like most receivers — to play on special teams.

"With the knee you think about it every now and then," Finneran said.

"Running down on kickoffs is one of the hardest things to do, take on a block, get off of it and making a tackle. I feel confident with what's going on, and if they ask me to do something like that I'll be happy to do it."

Finneran has impressed wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie.

"Brian is doing good," Robiskie said. "If he can stay healthy, obviously I think he can make some plays for us."

If he can make it all the way back, Finneran's return would be welcomed in the locker room.

"I'm excited to see him play again," Jenkins said. "Seeing him do all of the things he used to do, is a big inspiration."

Finneran passed his first test when the Falcons played a scrimmage at Mill Creek High School last Friday.

"It was a little bit emotional because I knew there was going to be some tackling and moving around," Finneran said. "They had the national anthem and everything. I haven't been around an environment like that in a couple of years. That kind of woke me up and said, 'here we go again.' "

It's not like Finneran has been in exile over the past two seasons. Falcons fans have seen him working regularly on television and heard him on sports-talk radio.

He appears to be a natural for the broadcast booth when his playing days are over.

"I was just trying to build my resume up while I was out rehabbing," Finneran said.

Finneran just hopes he doesn't need to use one of those Internet resume-blasters services anytime soon.