FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons running back Devonta Freeman remains in the league's concussion protocol program and did not practice on Wednesday.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn, with all of the talk about concussions around the league, was careful on the update.
“He’s in the first phase of it, the workout part,” Quinn said. “I’m not exactly sure what to describe it as, so I’ll follow up with you.”
Freeman’s status is in doubt for this Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
Freeman suffered the injury in the first half of the lost to the Colts on Sunday at the Georgia Dome. He stayed in the game for two more plays before leaving for good.
There is no timetable for Freeman’s return. The protocol dictates that Freeman must return to baseline status of cognitive functions before he is cleared by the team doctor and an independent neuropsychology consultant. At that point, he would be eligible to gradually return to practice and play.
Freeman had the Falcons’ longest play from scrimmage against the Colts, a 39-yard run. The run game stalled without him as rookie running backs Tevin Coleman and Terron Ward combined for 50 yards on rushing on 19 attempts.
Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is not planning to have Freeman.
“Just as a coach, you move on,” Shanahan said. “You hope for the best. But it’s just an area that you don’t want to mess with. You wait to see when they get cleared. When they do, you’re definitely happy.”
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