Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said he was initially “scared” when he aggravated his bothersome left knee on Sunday but said he’s confident it won’t become a long-term issue.
White banged the knee at the end of a 39-yard catch during the Falcons’ victory over the Saints on Sunday. He returned to finish the game and was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The Falcons play at Cincinnati on Sunday.
White, 32, played with a high ankle sprain for several weeks last season and it limited his effectiveness. He later said he should have sat out instead of continuing to play with the injury.
This season, Falcons coach Mike Smith has a plan for White that includes limited practice work early in the week before increasing his activity as the game gets closer.
“I think it’s really going to depend on surface we play on Sunday and the physicality of the game,” Smith said Thursday. “Roddy is getting up in years and he deserves to get some extra rest and he probably needs it. We are all about having guys ready on Sunday. We will continue to work with him and the (training staff) on what he needs throughout the season.”
White said he and Smith came up with the plan together.
“Me and ‘Smitty,’ we are on a good program,” White said. “He wants me to go out there on a Wednesday and do certain things, run around and get a little bit done, and then Thursday go out there and practice as hard as I can and then Friday be as fast as I can. We have to do timing things. We have things in the game plan we have to get done and me and Matt (Ryan) have to be on the same page.”
White played 70 of 75 offensive snaps against the Saints and had five catches for 72 yards with a touchdown. He had two catches for 17 yards after banging his knee.
“I’m feeling really good,” White said. “It did kind of scare me. But after that my adrenaline started pumping and I caught some passes and got back in there. Got back on Monday, I felt a little sore, but now I’m ready to go.”
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