FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons running back Michael Turner, who has led the NFL in carries in two of the past three seasons, has recovered from offseason groin surgery.
“I was just rehabbing my groin stuff like that,” Turner said after the second practice Friday. “I was here after I had my surgery.”
Turner, who was named to his second Pro Bowl, had 334 carries and rushed for 1,371 yards last season. In 2008, he had 376 carries and rushed for 1,699 yards.
Turner said the surgery was a success. “It went good,” Turner said. “I was out there running and stuff. It went pretty good. It feels good to be back playing football.”
Jones an instant starter
With the release of wide receiver Michael Jenkins, the Falcons signaled a changing of the guard at the spot opposite All-Pro Roddy White.
Jenkins was selected with the 29th pick in the 2004 draft.
He was a mainstay in the offense, but never amassed more than 100 yards receiving in a game. He had a career-high 53 catches in 2007 and a career-high in yards of 777 in 2008.
Jenkins’ future was in doubt after the Falcons traded five picks to move up 21 spots in the 2011 draft to select wide receiver Julio Jones with the sixth pick.
After the season, the Falcons also told veteran wide receiver Brian Finneran that he would not be re-signed.
“It’s tough because you love playing with those guys, Fin and Jenk,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “They did a great job for us. I hope both of those guys will get picked up and be productive somewhere else.”
Jones lined up with the first-team offense in the morning walk-through practice.
Line takes shape
When camp opened, the offensive line had Sam Baker at left tackle, Mike Johnson at left guard, Todd McClure at center, Garrett Reynolds at right guard and Will Svitek at right tackle.
Right tackle Tyson Clabo, who re-signed with the Falcons, can’t practice until next week because he was a free agent. Harvey Dahl signed a four-year contract with the St. Louis Rams, and free-agent Justin Blalock was still in talks with the Falcons.
The line of Baker, Blalock, McClure, Dahl and Clabo started together the past three seasons. They played a big part in the team posting three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in franchise history.
McClure will have at least one new person next to him.
“It’s a concern for me because the comfort level goes down a little bit when you have new guys beside you,” McClure said.
He will miss the nonverbal communications with his old mate.
“When you have guys that have been together, you can grunt a certain way and they know what you’re thinking,” McClure said.
Free-agency scorecard
The Falcons lost two unrestricted free agents Friday. Dahl signed a four-year deal with the Rams, and punter Michael Koenen signed a six-year deal with the Buccaneers.
The Falcons have re-signed four of their unrestricted free agents. Linebackers Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson and kicker Matt Bryant and Clabo will return after signing new deals.
Running back Jason Snelling and Blalock remain unsigned. The Falcons chose not to re-sign running back Jerious Norwood, who has yet to sign with another team.
The Falcons also need to deal with four other players. Cornerback Brent Grimes is a restricted free agent. Quarterback John Parker Wilson, wide receiver Eric Weems and defensive tackle Vance Walker are exclusive-rights free agents. None can practice until Aug. 4, the start of the NFL business year.
Meier cleared
Wide receiver Kerry Meier has been cleared to return to practice. He missed last season after suffering right knee injury in an exhibition game against New England.
Staff writer Chris Vivlamore contributed to this article.
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