FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons coach Mike Smith was noncommittal when asked twice if running back Steven Jackson would play against Jacksonville on Thursday.
"In terms of what we're going to do with playing time, there will be some guys that will and there will be some guys that won't," Smith said. "We've got some guys that we need to get some work and we've got some guys that we definitely know what they're capable of doing. The ones that we know what they're capable of doing will probably not get a lot of work."
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Jackson, as a veteran, is likely in the will not play group. Thusly, he will enter the regular season without any exhibition season action.
Jackson had been out with a right hamstring injury since July 28. He returned to practice on Monday.
Jackson, 31, believes he can enter the season without any exhibition action.
"Those hits in the preseason hurt just like the ones in the regular season,” Jackson quipped. “Whatever way coach decides to go, I'll be prepared for it, but just because it's the preseason doesn't mean the hits are any softer."
The Falcons finished last in the NFL in rushing last season. Jackson, the NFL's active career leading rusher, rushed for a career-low 543 yards and averaged a paltry 3.5 yards per carry.
OFFENSE
WR 84 Roddy White, 83 Harry Douglas, 89 Bernard Reedy, 8 Eric Weems
LT 70 Jake Matthews, 74 Terren Jones, 64 Pat McQuistan
LG 63 Justin Blalock, 67 Adam Replogle
C 61 Joe Hawley, 66 Peter Konz, 62 James Stone
RG 75 Jon Asamoah, 69 Harlan Gunn, 68 Gabe Carimi
RT 76 Lamar Holmes, 68 Gabe Carimi, 73 Ryan Schraeder
TE 80 Levine Toilolo, 86 Bear Pascoe, 82 Mickey Shuler, 81 Jacob Pedersen
WR 11 Julio Jones, 17 Devin Hester, 15 Courtney Roby, 14 Geraldo Boldewijn, 18 Freddie Martino
7 Jeremy Ebert
QB 2 Matt Ryan, 13 TJ Yates, 12 Sean Renfree
RB 39 Steven Jackson, 32 Jacquizz Rodgers, 35 Antone Smith, 33 Devonta Freeman
FB 42 Patrick DiMarco, 45 Maurice Hagens
DEFENSE
DE 71 Kroy Biermann, 50 Osi Umenyiora, 90 Stansly Maponga, 45 Jacques Smith
DT 99 Tyson Jackson, 77 Ra’Shede Hageman, 98 Cliff Matthews, 65 Donte Rumph
DT 96 Paul Soliai, 91 Corey Peters, 92 Travian Robertson, 64 Nosa Eguae
DE 95 Jonathan Babineaux, 94 Jonathan Massaquoi, 93 Malliciah Goodman, 49 Tyler Starr
LB 55 Paul Worrilow, 52 Tim Dobbins, 44 Pat Angerer, 54 Yawin Smallwood
LB 59 Joplo Bartu, 53 Prince Shembo
CB 23 Robert Alford, 28 Javier Arenas, 24 Jordan Mabin
CB 26 Josh Wilson, 27 Robert McClain, 28 Javier Arenas, 37 Ricardo Allen
S 25 William Moore, 36 Kemal Ishmael, 40 Kimario McFadden
S 20 Dwight Lowery, 41 Dezmen Southward, 29 Sean Baker
CB 21 Desmond Trufant, 37 Ricardo Allen
SPECIALISTS
K 3 Matt Bryant
KO 5 Matt Bosher
P 5 Matt Bosher
KR 17 Devin Hester, 32 Jacquizz Rodgers
PR 17 Devin Hester, 27 Robert McClain
LS 47 Josh Harris
H 5 Matt Bosher
PUP LIST -- 19 Drew Davis, 22 Zeke Motta
INJURED RESERVE -- 72 Sam Baker, 56 Sean Weatherspoon, 79 Mike Johnson, 51 Marquis Spruill
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