Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler has had a tumultuous first season with his third NFL team.
Things have not gone well for Fowler this season after signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Falcons on March 25, 2020.
He’s played in 13 games with 12 starts. He has 21 tackles, two sacks and seven quarterback hits.
“Time waits for no man,” Fowler said Wednesday. “I just have to get better. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going back to the lab. Go back to the drawing board and come back better than what I did this year.”
Fowler is scheduled to make his 13th start when the Falcons (4-11) face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
The offseason master plan called for Fowler and Takk McKinley to perform at optimal pass-rush levels and secure sacks by the bushel. That plan failed miserably on both fronts. McKinley was released Nov. 9 after tweeting about wanting a trade.
Fowler has been a model citizen, while trying to play through an ankle injury, hamstring strain and then a return from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
He suffered an ankle sprain in early September and wore a knee brace at practice. He answered the bell for the season opener, but clearly looked hobbled.
A speed rusher with a bad ankle sprain is pretty obvious to notice. He kept playing and was on the injury report as questionable for the third game against Chicago.
He played 79% of the snaps in the opener against Seattle, 70% against Dallas before a dip to 34% against Chicago in Week 3.
“It’s definitely been a rough season, but I really don’t like to make excuses,” Fowler said. “My standard is to be a double-digit sack guy, an elite pass rusher. I was pretty injured and banged up this year, but that’s no excuse. I’m still held to a standard, and this year I wasn’t held to the standard. I don’t feel that I played up to my standard as well.”
On Oct. 29 against Carolina, Fowler suffered a hamstring strain, perhaps compensating for the ankle. He then didn’t play against Denver on Nov. 8, the Sunday before the Falcons’ bye week.
When it appeared things couldn’t get any worse, Fowler went on the reserve/COVID-19 list Nov. 14. His missed the 24-9 loss to the Saints on Nov. 22 before he was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Nov. 25.
Fowler said he felt pretty good going into the Carolina game.
“But I ended up straining my hamstring,” Fowler said. “So, it’s kind of like I took 10 steps forward and 20 steps back. That’s no excuse. I just have to take care of my body.”
The hobbled Fowler has played 550 defensive snaps (54%) this season. Last season with the Los Angeles Rams, Fowler played 880 snaps (80%) and had a career-high 11.5 sacks.
After the big season with the Rams, he landed the deal with the Falcons that included a $14 million signing bonus and $29 million guaranteed.
Fowler believes that not having a structured offseason program led to his body breaking down.
“It’s definitely going to be really different the way I work out,” Fowler said. “Coming back bigger. Coming back stronger and be ready to hone in on what I can do and play my role the way I’m supposed to play it.”
Fowler is listed at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, believes that he can get bigger and stronger.
“Facts just prove that when I’m bigger, stronger and faster, I’m able to play at the best of my ability,” Fowler said.
The injuries have been tough to deal with for Fowler, who was third player selected in the 2015 by Jacksonville. He was traded to the Rams in 2018.
“I don’t like to make any excuses,” Fowler said. “I tried to play through the injuries as best as I could. I’m pretty sure that if I was more healthy than I was, it would have probably have (made) a difference. But at the end of the day, I’ve got to be better.”
Fowler is hoping to have more structure to his 2021 offseason.
“COVID-19 did play a big role in the season,” Fowler said. “You know I’m more of a structural type of player. I have to be in the building, being able to work with the guys in the offseason. OTAs (are) really important for a player like me.”
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was asked about Fowler’s rough season.
“You never know how years are going to shake out,” Ryan said. “Obviously, this year didn’t shake out how we all would have liked for it to have gone. You’ve got to keep working at it. You have to stay positive and keep that kind of mindset. I think all of us have worked at that this year.”
Falcons interim coach Raheem Morris, who’s had to manufacture a pass rush after cutting McKinley and playing with a hobbled Fowler, believes he can bounce back next season.
“In order to play in this profession you have to be known for something,” Morris said. “If you’re going to be known for getting sacks, you have to go out and get sacks. You have to be consistent and you have to be consistent with your effort.
“Right now, he just hasn’t had the numbers that you’ve got to have and that would relate to all of the things that he brought to us. … He’ll be disappointed in what happened this season. I’ve got a feeling that he’ll look forward to next year and absolutely getting after people.”
Falcons’ 2021 draft position
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston)
4. Falcons
5. Cincinnati Bengals
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