Devonta Freeman Injury: Updates on Falcons RB's Hamstring and Return

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman was nursing a hamstring injury suffered back on Aug. 6, but would ultimately be active for Week 1 of the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles, confirmed the team.

This was good news considering Freeman missed the entire preseason with the ailment. 

Last season, Freeman was second on the team behind Steven Jackson with 248 rushing yards, but Jackson is no longer on the roster. What's more, Freeman proved to be a security blanket for quarterback Matt Ryan out of the backfield last year and tallied 225 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Freeman's rookie campaign production didn't come as a surprise because he notched 1,016 rushing yards, 278 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns in his final season at Florida State.

Charles Odum of the Associated Press (via the Athens Banner-Herald) pointed out the importance many, including Quinn, put on Freeman before the 2015 season:

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Freeman opened training camp as the favorite to start. Freeman has impressed first-year coach Dan Quinn, who seems to have a new compliment for the running back every day. Even when talking about the new injury, Quinn had more praise for Freeman.

"Hopefully it's a quick turnaround and he can get back," Quinn said. "He's such a passionate competitor. You could see how disappointed he was not to be able to finish the day. He is an absolute competitor and just every day he brings it. He stands for a lot of stuff I love about our team, his attitude, intensity and toughness and wanting to compete. All those are traits we look for and he brings them every day."

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If Atlanta hopes to finish better than 24th in the league in rushing yards this season (its 2014 rank), it needs Freeman on the field.