FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl running back Devonta Freeman was slowed Tuesday by what coach Dan Quinn called a high gluteal strain, but Quinn said the injury is not a cause for concern.
Freeman participated in the early portion of the organized team activities and even ran through an agility drill without issue. As practice continued, he stood on the side holding his helmet as Tevin Coleman got reps with the first-team offense.
Freeman was noticeably hobbled toward the end of practice. Quinn, however, emphasized that the injury was nothing long term.
"We kept him limited today," Quinn said. "He had a strain ... so he'll be back here Thursday. It was just something that we held him. He could do some things, but it was a coach's decision to hold him. He could have gone, but we decided just to hold him."
Coleman looked good catching the ball out of the backfield with Freeman sidelined. Coleman's continued improvement should only help enhance the Falcons' rushing attack. But the Falcons certainly hope Freeman enjoys some of the success he had last season, when he rushed for 1,061 yards and tied for the NFL lead with 14 total touchdowns.
Here are a few more notes from Tuesday's OTAs:
* Paul Worrilow worked with the second team at middle linebacker as rookie second-round draft pick Deion Jones got work with the starters. It wasn't the first time Jones has worked with the first unit this offseason, but he had a productive day in intercepting a tipped Matt Ryan pass. Jones, fellow rookie De'Vondre Campbell, and veteran Philip Wheeler made up the linebacker group in the base package.
* Second-year wide receiver Justin Hardy made a one-handed catch look routine.
* Three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack got his first taste of the Atlanta heat. He was noticeably exhausted as he dropped to one knee and took in some fluids with assistance from a member of the training staff.
* Second-year cornerback Akeem King continues to show up and had a nice pass breakup while working opposite Desmond Trufant, with Robert Alford at the nickel.
* Vic Beasley Jr. had a nice rush off the edge in a drill against Ryan Schraeder, although Schraeder eventually took Beasley to the ground.
* Maybe the pass-rush move of the day was the spin move undrafted rookie Ivan McClellan put on tackle Bryce Harris.
* KR Devin Hester (toe), NT Grady Jarrett (knee), RG Chris Chester (shoulder), C/G James Stone (knee), and WR Devin Fuller (hamstring) continued to rehab their injuries on a side field.
