LOGANVILLE, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant sat out the team's "Friday Night Lights" practice at Grayson High School with a hip injury that does not appear to be serious.
Trufant was in street clothes as his teammates went through padded drills. Falcons coach Dan Quinn expressed little concern about Trufant's injury.
"Tru, we held out tonight," Quinn said. "I think he could have gone, but he just was limited. He's still being bothered by a little lower hip injury. He'll probably be back in the mix here Sunday. It was just my decision, really. He's somebody like, 'Nah, I'm good. I want to go.' So it was my decision."
Trufant's absence allowed converted receiver C.J. Goodwin to get some reps with the first-team defense opposite Robert Alford at corner. Goodwin is one of the players battling for the nickelback role along with undrafted rookie Brian Poole, Akeem King, and DeMarcus Van Dyke. Quinn is still trying to decide whether to move Alford inside to cover, and Jalen Collins' four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs allows others such as Poole, Goodwin, and King to get valuable reps in preparation for the season's first four games.
Goodwin made his presence felt Friday, leaping into the air to intercept a Matt Schaub pass to rookie tight end Austin Hooper in the end zone.
"We know that Goodwin has the ball skills," Quinn said. "And we're anxious to see him enter this preseason. He's got length. He's got speed. He's got some of the prerequisites. He does not look out of place playing defensive back."
After a strong performance during minicamp, Goodwin said, "I'm still learning. It's exciting, though, I'm not going to lie. But if I follow my technique ... [Secondary coach Marquand Manuel] never says go make a play. He says follow your technique, and things will happen. That's what I've been trying to do."
