With Devonta Freeman leading the NFL in rushing, few remember that Tevin Coleman opened the season as the Falcons’ starter.
Here’s a brief refresher.
Both suffered hamstring injuries in the exhibition season. Coleman recovered more quickly and was ready to answer the bell at kickoff in the season opener against Philadelphia.
He had a solid start, with 80 yards on 20 carries against the Eagles. He followed that with 32 yards on nine carries against the New York Giants before he was knocked out of the game with a fractured rib.
Freeman took over and has placed a firm grip on the Falcons’ top running back job. Since missing games against Dallas and Houston, Coleman has played sparingly. He’s had two, four, three and three carries over the past four games.
But somehow, Coleman has dealt with his plight and remains upbeat.
“Yeah it was tough, but Devonta, that’s my boy,” Coleman said. “He’s killing the game right now. I can’t hate. I’ve got to respect him, you know what I’m saying?”
Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan isn’t surprised that Coleman has such a refreshing outlook.
“Tevin has been great,” Shanahan said. “Tevin and ‘Free’ support each other very well. We’ve got three very good backs, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in Tevin.”
The third back is rookie Terron Ward, an undrafted free agent, who has 19 carries for 72 yards and one touchdown.
Coleman was drafted in the third round out of Indiana. He played in 33 games over three years for the Hoosiers and ran for 3,219 yards and 28 touchdowns. Last season, he became the 18th player in FBS history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season when he ran for 2,036.
He’s not used to sitting much, but plans to stay ready.
“Whatever role they have for me, I’m fine with that,” Coleman said. “I’m going to go with that. I’m still going to keep on working hard. Keep on fighting and competing. That’s what I do.”
In the meantime, Coleman plans to make the most of his opportunities.
“When my time comes up, I just have to finish,” Coleman said. “That’s pretty much what I have to do.”
Coleman has been close to breaking a couple of big runs in recent games. In his second game back, he broke into the secondary against New Orleans and was down to the 9-yard line when he took a hit and fumbled. He may not have been fully recovered from the fractured rib.
Coleman and the rest of the players on offense have been ordered to stop turning the ball over.
“I think the biggest thing is to make sure that we take care of the ball,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “When we have opportunities, and we’re driving the football and we’ve got it in that positive territory, we’ve got a chance to put points on the board you have to put points on the board.”
Coleman struggled with catching passes in practice with both hands while working his way back. But six weeks after the injury, he appears fluid while catching passes. He’s also been catching kickoffs as the backup kickoff returner, with Devin Hester (turf toe, injured reserve) and Nick Williams (hamstring) ailing.
“Everything has been going good,” Coleman said. “I’m coming back from injury well. It’s doing pretty good. I’m just going to keep on working. Keep on fighting.”
It doesn’t seem like the Falcons have lost any confidence in Coleman after the fumble in New Orleans.
“Free has been rolling and doing a heck of a job,” Shanahan said. “Tevin hasn’t gotten in there as much as he’d like to, but when he has, he’s done a good job.”
Shanahan knows the season is long and that Freeman may need more extended breaks.
“He’ll get more opportunities at some time, you never know when it will be,” Shanahan said. “I expect him to be ready when he does.”
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