FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Brooks Reed has dealt with groin injuries ever since he was a kid.
He addressed those issues back in 2013 with a visit to Philadelphia to see Dr. William Meyers, a groin/sports hernia surgeon known for working with pro athletes. Reed had another procedure before joining the Falcons this offseason. Then, more groin problems during training camp led to a third surgery immediately before the last preseason game (Sept. 3).
Now Reed is back practicing again. And he hopes the third surgical procedure signaled the end of his groin issues.
"It feels great," said Reed, who returned to practice Thursday. "Been doing a lot of rehab. I think this last surgery will be the last time I have to undergo anything. But it's the best it ever felt. I'm ready to get out there and finally do my thing -- running around and contribute."
Reed explained why he had to undergo three surgeries.
"It was kind of a decision on whether to fix it temporarily or fix it permanently," he said. "I went with the permanent solution so I could be here at the end of the season and still be healthy."
Some athletes have been sidelined as long as six weeks following such groin surgery. Reed's former teammate in Houston, Arian Foster, returned to practice last Thursday after undergoing groin surgery Aug. 7. Foster's surgery was performed by Meyers.
Reed's return on Thursday meant three weeks, although it remain unclear when he'll be ready to play in an actual game.
"Everyone's a little bit different, and mine is different than Arian's," Reed said. "My was not as intrusive. I had what Arian had at the beginning of the year. But this one, this was a little bit different. I didn't have so much complicated stuff. I had two muscles sewn together -- the gracilis and (adductor) longus. And you've got six groin muscles."
Reed went through a limited practice Thursday. Coach Dan Quinn plans to wait and see how Reed's body responds before declaring Reed ready to play in a game.
The Falcons signed Reed to a five-year, $22 million deal ($9 million guaranteed) in March with hopes of beefing up their run defense. But Reed has been primarily a spectator thus far.
He hopes that all changes soon.
"Just get as much practice in as possible and just keep on rehabbing and don't stop," Reed said. "I just have to keep my core strong and my hips strong so that doesn't happen again. Just a better play of action going forward. Just keep getting more reps, getting back in practice, and start getting my game speed up."
