Atlanta Falcons wideout Julio Jones returned to practice on Thursday and appears likely to play this weekend against the Minnesota Vikings, barring any setbacks.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Jones looked crisp in his first practice of the week, though the rookie receiver only participated on a limited basis.

“It felt good to get back out there, running routes,” Jones said, via the newspaper. “I thought I was going to be rusty, but I wasn’t. So, it just felt good to be back out there with my teammates.”

Jones has battled a nagging hamstring injury throughout the year. He originally suffered the injury Oct. 9 against the Green Bay Packers and missed the following two games. Jones then came back Nov. 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, exploding for two touchdowns and 131 yards, but he re-aggravated his hamstring the next week against the New Orleans Saints and sat out last week’s win over the Tennessee Titans.

Cornerback Brent Grimes (knee) also returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson did not practice for a second consecutive day as he attempts to overcome a sprained left ankle he sustained last Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Peterson was in a walking boot Wednesday, and Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Peterson would need to practice by Friday in order to be available against the Falcons.

Tight ends Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) and Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps) did not practice Thursday, while wideout Percy Harvin (ribs) and quarterback Christian Ponder (knee) were limited.

Read More: Chauncey Davis (DE – ATL), Sam Koch (P – BAL), James Sanders (SS – NEP), Kelvin Hayden (DB – ATL), David Reed (WR – BAL), Kamaal McIlwain (CB – ATL), Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons, Sep 1, 2011 7:30 PM EDT

The Atlanta Falcons will play their final preseason game of the year on Thursday night when they play host to the Baltimore Ravens in what Jason Kirk describes as the NFL’s most curious rivalry. The TV schedule, game time and everything else is posted below, but first, a short preview from our friends around SB Nation.

Dave Choate of the Falcoholic, SB Nation’s Atlanta Falcons blog, wrote on Wednesday night how the signing of James Sanders and Kelvin Hayden might change how the front office looks at the team’s defensive backfield on Thursday night. 

What happens next, considering the Falcons have to cut down to 80 players? Chris Owens could get the boot, or an undrafted free agent type like Kamaal McIlwain. Chauncey Davis and his fancy salary could be looking for work, too, if the Falcons want a little more cap breathing room.

That’s all for the next day or two to determine. What is clear is that the Falcons just got better, without a clear downside. That’s the kind of thing every Falcons fan, even the ones in lead-lined bunkers, can get behind.  

Over at Baltimore Beatdown, SB Nation’s Baltimore Ravens blog, Bruce Raffel broke down a few of the players to watch when not focusing on the Falcons’ high-octane offense.

“WR David Reed was a fifth round draft pick last year who couldn’t stay healthy and only recently returned to the practice field this week. However, he is already ahead of the rookie WR’s and proved he can be a solid kick returner as he returned one for a TD last season.  The other guy is punter Sam Koch, who is a linebacker in a punter’s body and booms kicks far and can touch them down near the goal line almost on command, which is a very under rated skill.”

Now, to the game information!

Game Date/Time: Thursday, September 1 at 7 p.m.

Location: Georgia Dome

TV Schedule: CBS – WGCL 46; NFL Network re-air on Saturday at 1 p.m.

TV Distribution Map: The506.com

Radio Schedule: 790 The Zone and Star 94

For more, head to The Falcoholic and Baltimore Beatdown.

Read More: Chauncey Davis (DE – ATL), Sam Koch (P – BAL), James Sanders (SS – NEP), Kelvin Hayden (DB – ATL), David Reed (WR – BAL), Kamaal McIlwain (CB – ATL), Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons, Sep 1, 2011 7:30 PM EDT

The Atlanta Falcons will play their final preseason game of the year on Thursday night when they play host to the Baltimore Ravens in what Jason Kirk describes as the NFL’s most curious rivalry. The TV schedule, game time and everything else is posted below, but first, a short preview from our friends around SB Nation.

Dave Choate of the Falcoholic, SB Nation’s Atlanta Falcons blog, wrote on Wednesday night how the signing of James Sanders and Kelvin Hayden might change how the front office looks at the team’s defensive backfield on Thursday night. 

What happens next, considering the Falcons have to cut down to 80 players? Chris Owens could get the boot, or an undrafted free agent type like Kamaal McIlwain. Chauncey Davis and his fancy salary could be looking for work, too, if the Falcons want a little more cap breathing room.

That’s all for the next day or two to determine. What is clear is that the Falcons just got better, without a clear downside. That’s the kind of thing every Falcons fan, even the ones in lead-lined bunkers, can get behind.  

Over at Baltimore Beatdown, SB Nation’s Baltimore Ravens blog, Bruce Raffel broke down a few of the players to watch when not focusing on the Falcons’ high-octane offense.

“WR David Reed was a fifth round draft pick last year who couldn’t stay healthy and only recently returned to the practice field this week. However, he is already ahead of the rookie WR’s and proved he can be a solid kick returner as he returned one for a TD last season.  The other guy is punter Sam Koch, who is a linebacker in a punter’s body and booms kicks far and can touch them down near the goal line almost on command, which is a very under rated skill.”

Now, to the game information!

Game Date/Time: Thursday, September 1 at 7 p.m.

Location: Georgia Dome

TV Schedule: CBS – WGCL 46; NFL Network re-air on Saturday at 1 p.m.

TV Distribution Map: The506.com

Radio Schedule: 790 The Zone and Star 94

For more, head to The Falcoholic and Baltimore Beatdown.

by

The Associated Press

Associated Press

FLOWERY BRANCH — Almost a week after their training camp opened, the Atlanta Falcons finally worked Thursday for the first time with their full roster, including defensive end Ray Edwards and cornerback Brent Grimes.

A smiling Edwards, wearing No. 93, was flanked by defensive end John Abraham, receiver Roddy White, tight end Tony Gonzalez and cornerback Dunta Robinson as he walked onto the practice field.

Edwards appeared comfortable in the company of some of the team’s other stars.

The Falcons ranked 20th in the league with 31 sacks, including 13 by Abraham, last season. Edwards, who had 16.5 sacks the last two years with Minnesota, is expected to give the team a needed pass-rush complement to Abraham at defensive end. Kroy Biermann had only three sacks as a starting end last season.

Edwards was lured to Atlanta by a five-year, $30-million contract that includes a guarantee of $11 million.

The Falcons twice pushed back the start of their full-pads workout on Thursday afternoon while waiting on players to ratify the collective bargaining agreement. The players’ vote to approve the deal meant the Falcons’ only free-agent addition, Edwards, and the free agents they have re-signed, including Grimes, were cleared to practice.

Grimes, a 2010 Pro Bowl pick, signed his $2.61 million first-round tender Thursday. He was a restricted free agent.

Also practicing Thursday for the first time in training camp were starting offensive linemen Tyson Clabo and Justin Blalock and linebackers Mike Peterson and Stephen Nicholas, who re-signed as unrestricted free agents.

By returning most of their starters and top backups from a 13-3 team, the Falcons believe they are in position to turn the NFL lockout into a positive. Unlike teams that now must quickly adjust to new schemes, new coaches or new quarterbacks, the Falcons return most of their top players, including quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner and White.

The Falcons retained Clabo, Blalock, Nicholas, Peterson and kicker Matt Bryant as free agents.

Only Edwards and the rookies, including receiver Julio Jones, the first-round pick from Alabama, have to learn the playbook without the benefit of the normal offseason workouts and camps.

“I see that as absolutely a strength,” said linebacker Coy Wire, the Falcons’ player representative. “We have the familiarity of our schemes and our systems. We just have to get just a few of the new guys caught up.

“If it was strategy of management to keep the core guys of our group together, I’d say that was a smart play, given that we had such a short offseason and we had a pretty darn good football team last year. We just made a few adjustments and hopefully that’s the difference we need.”

The Falcons lost offensive guard Harvey Dahl, who signed with St. Louis, but return their other four linemen.

“We’d love to have 100 percent of the guys back, but given the fact we have the majority of our team back together is going to be a huge advantage for us compared with other teams,” said fullback Ovie Mughelli.

“It’s going to be a great thing for our team. We’re just going to be a little ahead of the game compared with teams that don’t have that continuity and that team structure.”