Yahoo Sports Devonta Freeman 'looks great' in OTAs after an injury-riddled 2018
One of the Atlanta Falcons’ best playmakers is back. Running back Devonta Freeman participated in team OTAs on Thursday, and performed well, according to Charles Odum of the Star Tribune.
That should come as fantastic news to Falcons fans. It should also lift the spirits of quarterback Matt Ryan, who said Freeman “looks great” after missing 14 games last season.
The 27-year-old Freeman was limited to just two games in 2018 due to knee and groin injuries. Freeman injured his knee during the team’s Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and missed the next three games. He was able to return in Week 5, but suffered a groin injury that kept him out the rest of the season.
It was the second straight year Freeman has been plagued by injuries. He played through most of 2017 with a knee issue that limited his production. He also missed one game in 2017 due to a concussion.
Prior to that, Freeman had emerged as one of the game’s biggest threats in the backfield. In 2015 and 2016, Freeman averaged 1,067 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns per year. He also averaged over 500 receiving yards during that period.
Getting Freeman back to that level will be an even bigger key for the Falcons this season. With Tevin Coleman leaving to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, Freeman will be relied on to carry a bigger load for the Falcons in 2019.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
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