Steven Jackson, Jason Snelling Injury Updates

Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson (39) runs with the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against the St. Louis Rams at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons haven’t had feature back Steven Jackson healthy since they played his hold team in Week 2, and it’s very concerning to see that the veteran back still isn’t at practice with a hamstring injury. It’s been a month now, and ESPN NFL Nation’s Vaughn McClure reports that Steven Jackson is still only able to “observe” Falcons practice. The Falcons have clearly missed Jackson’s ability on the ground, even if he isn’t the kind of player he used to be.

Jackson’s slow recovery shows us just how difficult it is for older back to recover from injuries, particularly ankle, knee, and hamstring ailments that directly affect their ability to run effectively. He had a huge game for the Falcons in their Week 1 loss against the New Orleans Saints, and that sort of production just isn’t going to be consistently matched by even a committee of Jason Snelling and fellow Oregon State product Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons still aren’t giving any updates on Jackson, and it would be a shock to see him out there this week.

On the bright side, Jason Snelling seems to be doing fine, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter reports that Snelling was able to return to practice today. He suffered a concussion against the New York Jets, but he’s fully expected to play this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the bye.

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