Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman tries to dodge a tackle during the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. After missing the past three games, Freeman is expected to play Sunday against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons expect running back Devonta Freeman, who has missed the past three games with a sore right knee, to return to competition Sunday at Pittsburgh.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Freeman, the team's leading rusher the past three seasons, would have full clearance "without any setbacks." There was no report of a setback, but Freeman was listed as limited on the team's practice report Wednesday, just as he was late last week.
Freeman was upbeat before practice.
"I feel really good," Freeman said. "Coming back and doing something I really love to do is always a good time. I'm just excited to be back."
Freeman said he's confident he is "comfortable enough to be back out there."
"I feel explosive and ready to run," he explained.
Atlanta's defense, meanwhile, has lost a fourth starter for at least one week. Quinn confirmed defensive tackle Grady Jarrett will be held out with an ankle sprain and a knee injury he sustained late in last week's 37-36 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Quinn said Jack Crawford will start for Jarrett, while Terrell McClain and rookie Deadrin Senat will have bigger roles.
Defensive tackle Michael Bennett, who was signed Tuesday after being cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 11, said he is "studying like crazy" to be ready for a backup role.
"I plan to play, and they plan to play me," Bennett said.
Atlanta's defense already has lost starting safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen to season-ending injuries and linebacker Deion Jones for at least eight weeks. Offensive guard Andy Levitre is on injured reserve as well.
The Falcons (1-3) have lost two straight games as they prepare to take on the Steelers (1-2-1), so the return of Freeman was embraced as rare positive news for them in the season's first month.
"Free is chomping at the bit to get back and get going," Quinn said, adding he hopes a full week of practice will enable the fifth-year pro to "feel like he can explode and do the things that he does in both the run game and pass game."
Added Quinn: "Man, we're pumped to have him back out there."
This is the second straight season Freeman has missed time with injuries. He missed two games in 2017 with a concussion, his second of the year, and was slowed by a right knee injury late in the season.
After running for more than 1,000 yards in 2015 and again in 2016, Freeman finished last season with 865 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, along with 36 catches.
Tevin Coleman and rookie Ito Smith combined to run for 86 yards against the Bengals. Quinn was not satisfied with the production of the ground game.
"We definitely left some things out there in the run game, we felt, this past week," Quinn said. "We challenged the offense. We think there's a spot we can go to and we can be significantly better, and the run game is one of those spots."
Atlanta's running game also sputtered in a 43-37 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 23. Coleman averaged only 2.2 yards per carry while being held to 33 yards.
Freeman wouldn't say he alone could jump-start the running game.
"I'm just coming in to do my part," he said. "I just think we need to win. It's not about individual stats or any of that."
Cornerback Justin Bethel (knee), wide receiver Julio Jones (hand, ankle) and Jarrett were held out of Wednesday's practice, while Coleman (shin), defensive ends Vic Beasley Jr. (ankle) and Derrick Shelby (groin), linebacker Foye Oluokun (ankle) and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (hip) were listed as limited.
Jones has missed practices each of the past two weeks before being removed from the injury report before games.