Falcons hoping for recoveries from Desmond Trufant, Keanu Neal

Falcons defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and defensive backs coach Joe Whitt are hoping to get cornerback Desmond Trufant (broken forearm) and safety Keanu Neal (ruptured Achilles) back from season-ending injuries in the 2020.

“He came on last year and probably had one of his more productive seasons,” Morris said Tuesday of Trufant. “Grabbing four picks … he had two in one game and two in another. He played well. We look forward to all of those guys coming back.”

Whitt was hired after the season and has studied the film from last season. He’s also high on Trufant.

“I thought he was having a good year, too,” Whitt said. “When I put on the film and started evaluating Game 1, Tru did a good job of getting his hands on people early. Just like I was saying Isaiah (Oliver) wasn’t doing early in the year, but Tru was. Tru, I had him in the Pro Bowl a couple of years ago. He’s a great kid, and I’m excited to work with him because he has a lot of good football in front of him.”

Neal, a year after coming back from a knee surgery, has a longer road to recovery.

“He’s got to come back healthy,” Morris said. “Health is the No. 1 priority for him. We won’t get to see Keke to when we get going in training camp. I don’t know what his timeline is going to be.”

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