Falcons running back Steven Jackson suffered a right hamstring injury and did not participate in practice on Tuesday.
Falcons coach Mike Smith pointed out that it was not the hamstring that Jackson injured last season, when he suffered an injury to his left hamstring in the second game of the season. Smith said he expected Jackson to ready for the season-opener against the Saints on Sept. 7.
“Steven injured his hamstring yesterday,” Smith said. “We kept him out. We don’t think it’s going to be real significant. He will be ready for the first game.”
Jackson’s streak of eight consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons came to an end in 2014.
Now, for the fourth consecutive season, Jackson has been slowed by a soft-tissue injury. Jackson missed four games after suffering his injury in 2013.
Jackson, 31, rushed 157 times for 543 yards and scored six touchdowns. He averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry.
However, the Falcons are counting on Jackson to bounce back and carry the rushing attack this season.
Behind Jackson, the Falcons have the dependable Jacquizz Rodgers and drafted Devonta Freeman in the fourth-round of the NFL draft.
Freeman, 5-foot-8, 206 pounds, rushed 173 times for 1,016 yards last season and became Florida State’s first 1,000-yard rusher since former Falcon Warrick Dunn accomplished that feat in 1996.
Smith is also more comfortable with backup running back Antone Smith, who flashed in spot duty last season.
Former backup running back Jason Snelling retired over the offseason.
