Falcons wide receiver Roddy White, fresh off elbow surgery, returned to practice on Tuesday.
White, 33, had right elbow surgery on Aug. 24 after he was a surprise scratch from the second exhibition game against the New York Jets on Aug. 21.
“It was bound to happen,” White said. “We went back and looked at an MRI that I had in 2012, where I had nicked up my elbow. I had some bone chips in there and it just kind of fell into the joint, so I couldn’t really bend it. They had to remove it.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn expects White, the franchise’s all-time leading receiver, to start against the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener at 7:10 p.m. Monday at the Georgia Dome.
“Knowing the competitor that he is, no doubt,” Quinn said. “He had a good jog and run yesterday,” Quinn said. “He was on the jugs machine (and he caught) about 150 balls. Typical Roddy, he was chomping at the bit to get going today.”
While White returned, wide receiver/returner Devin Hester did not practice because of a toe injury.
White had his elbow heavily padded, but it was strong enough to throw and catch passes with Hester and wide receiver Julio Jones.
White’s injury opened up a chance for young receivers Justin Hardy and Nick Williams to impress and make the 53-man roster. Leonard Hankerson started in White’s spot over the final three exhibition games.
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