The Falcons got some welcome positive injury news Wednesday when wide receiver Roddy White and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon practiced.
White has missed three consecutive games, but could play Sunday against the Seahawks. Weatherspoon is not eligible to play until Nov. 17 at Tampa Bay; coach Mike Smith said he’s on track to return for that game, barring a setback.
White has been hobbled by ankle and hamstring ailments. He hadn’t practiced on a Wednesday before a game since suffering the ankle injury before the regular season.
“He got some very limited snaps on Friday and had much more snaps in this practice,” Smith said Wednesday.
Smith said if all goes well for White, the plan is to increase his practice workload Thursday and Friday.
White suffered a high ankle sprain Aug. 15 in an exhibition game against Baltimore and played through that injury, but suffered a hamstring injury Oct. 7 against the Jets. He didn’t play Oct. 20 against Tampa Bay following the bye week, the first time he missed a game in his career.
Weatherspoon was placed on the short-term injured reserve list after he suffered a foot injury Sept. 15 against the Rams. He said he “tweaked” a ligament when his foot stayed planted as he was hit by an opponent.
The Falcons now have 21 days to decide whether to add Weatherspoon to the active roster. Smith said Weatherspoon has to show he’s ready physically and must get in football shape.
Weatherspoon stopped short of saying he would play Nov. 17.
“I get a chance to get out there and see how it feels and judge it off of that,” he said.
Feeling for teammate: Falcons rookie tight end Levine Toilolo, who played with Dolphins lineman Jonathan Martin at Stanford, said he feels for his former college teammate.
Martin left the Dolphins amid alleged bullying and harassment by teammates.
“He’s a friend of mine, but I haven’t talked to him,” Toilolo said. “It’s unfortunate, but I don’t know the whole story. Still, I kind of feel for him. It’s an unfortunate situation for him and their team.”
The Falcons have rituals for rookies that include performing songs for the team during training camp. Also, Toilolo and other rookies carried veterans’ equipment to the locker room after practice.
But Toilolo, who has three other family members who have played in the NFL, said he had no problem with the way veterans have treated him.
“I think around here the guys are great,” Toilolo said. “The vets around here are great. I feel like I’ve enjoyed my time here with the players and coaches that we have here in this organization.”
Smith declined to specifically address the controversy with the Dolphins, but said the team seeks to maintain a professional environment.
“What’s going on in Miami is not something I concern myself with,” Smith said. “I will tell you this: We built this team around respect. You respect everybody in the locker room and you respect everybody in the building. That’s been our tenet from Day 1 in this organization.”
Injury report: Falcons defensive tackle Corey Peters (knee) did not practice. Peters left the game Sunday with what the team said was a knee injury before later returning.
In addition to White and Weatherspoon, three players participated in practice on a limited basis: offensive tackle Sam Baker (knee), defensive tackle Peria Jerry (toe) and linebacker Stephen Nicholas (thigh).
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