Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez passed a concussion test during the Miami game Sunday and returned to the action, he said Thursday.
“I just got my bell rung,” Gonzalez said. “It was kind of like I was in a fight. Someone hit me right on the head in that sweet spot, but it wasn’t a concussion or anything like that. It was just a little bit of dizziness. I’ve had them before.
“I went over to the sidelines. The doctors checked me out and gave me the whole test. I passed it, and obviously I went back in. I felt fine.
Gonzalez had four catches on the opening drive. He did not catch a pass after his injury scare.
“I don’t think so,” he said when asked if it affected his play. “I felt fine, and I’m ready to go this week.”
The Falcons’ offensive line could receive a boost with the return of left tackle Sam Baker (ankle, knee), who was limited in practice Thursday. He has not practiced since the St. Louis game Sept. 15.
Wide receiver Roddy White (high ankle sprain) returned to practice after not practicing Wednesday.
Running back Steven Jackson (hamstring) did not practice, and coach Mike Smith would not put a new timetable on his return. He was originally tabbed by Smith to miss two to three weeks after the win over St. Louis.
Wide receiver Julio Jones (knee), center Peter Konz (knee) and right guard Garrett Reynolds (knee) were limited. Cornerback Robert McClain (knee) and running back Josh Vaughan (ankle) fully participated in practice.
Samuel's tips: Falcons cornerback Asante Samuel, who played with the Patriots from 2003-07, has a great deal of respect of New England quarterback Tom Brady.
He has given advice this week to the Falcons’ young cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford.
“You just have to prepare and be ready for something that you’ve probably never seen before,” Samuel said of the tips he gave them. “You’re going to play against one of the best. His execution and tempo is going to be unbelievable. Don’t be shocked.”
While there was some acrimony surrounding Samuel’s exit from Philadelphia, where he played from 2008-11, he remembers his time with New England fondly.
“It was my first home,” Samuel said. “I was born into the New England system as a rookie as an NFL player. I’m always going to have some love (for them). That’s what it is.”
Deep ball missing: The Falcons, in part because of leaky pass protection, have relied heavily on their short passing game early in 2013.
But offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wants to start launching some bombs.
“We need to have more vertical shots in our game,” Koetter said. “That’s something that we are probably lacking right now. We just have to get more of an element of the vertical game.”
In addition to pass-protection issues, White has been hobbled by his injury.
“There are multiple factors in there that I’m not going to get into,” Koetter said. “There is more than one reason, but you are not scaring the defense if you’re not threatening vertically, that’s for sure.”
According to NFL statistics, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan ranks 30th in average pass length (including incomplete passes) at 6.14 yards and 32nd in the average length his passes travel in the air before completions (4.56).
According to Pro Football Focus, just 38.5 percent of Ryan’s 909 passing yards come before the catch. That’s the lowest percentage in the league.
Offensive line development: The Falcons' offensive line is still developing. Pat Hill, one of the Falcons' offensive line coaches, along with Paul Dunn, worked with New England coach Bill Belichick during his Cleveland head-coaching stint.
“Pat is an excellent coach,” Belichick said. “He does a great job. He’s a good fundamental teacher. He has a great way of motivating his players. He works them hard. Everybody loves him. He’s a guy that has a real upbeat and positive energy.”
Etc.: In past two home games, including the playoffs, Jones has 22 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns. … Gonzalez leads all active players with 1,253 catches, 14,361 receiving yards and 104 receiving touchdowns.
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