NFL: Falcons RB Devonta Freeman Says He's Healthy And Ready To Go

Devonta Freeman missed almost all of last season because of injuries, and the Atlanta falcons stumbled amid the absence of their explosive, dual-threat running back. Freeman was limited to 14 combined carries in two games before a sports hernia ended his 2018 campaign. Atlanta had been widely considered an NFC title contender, but stumbled to a 7-9 mark and missed the playoffs. But Freeman reported Thursday to organized team activities, saying he was fully healthy and eager to return to the field.

"It felt good just to be out here running around and having fun," Freeman told the media Thursday.  "This is fun. Just having fun running around brought back memories of when I was a kid, playing in the middle of the field. It was fun."

Without Freeman in the backfield, Atlanta  mustered just the No. 27-ranked rushing attack in the NFL with 1,573 yards, an average of 98.3 yards per game. The Falcons still averaged a respectable 25.9 points per game, but that number is a bit skewed by their robust production against inferior opponents.

Quarterback Matt Ryan averaged 38 passing attempts per contest and also took 42 sacks, illustrating the offense's lack of balance without a viable running threat. Tevin Coleman led the team with 800 rushing yards, but nobody else had more than 315.

Freeman, 27, had back-to-back seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015 and 2016 as he teamed with Coleman to provide one of the most potent backfields in the NFL. They were core pieces in the record-setting offense that propelled Atlanta to a berth in Super Bowl LI.

But Coleman signed with the San Francisco 49ers in the off-season, leaving Atlanta thin at the position. Wyoming product Brian Hill had 157 yards on 20 carries in limited action last season, and the Falcons drafted bruising back Qadree Ollison from Pittsburgh in the fifth round. Even so, Freeman appears entrenched as the No. 1 back and will be asked to carry a heavy workload.

"It's been awesome having (him) back on the field and be back to having him look like himself, to see the energy that he brings has been good," coach Dan Quinn said.

Atlanta opened as a four-point underdog at Minnesota for its Sept. 8 season opener and is offered at odds of 25/1 to win the Super Bowl.