FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, who sustained ligament damage in his right knee at the end of last season but did not have surgery, said he is making progress toward regaining full strength as the team continues offseason workouts.
Freeman suffered injuries to both his posterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in the 2017 regular-season finale against Carolina. He played through the injury in two postseason games: a wild-card-round victory over the Los Angeles Rams and a divisional playoff loss to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
"I'm able to do a lot of things that I couldn't do back in January, February," Freeman said Wednesday. "Running, cutting, sprinting -- getting a little stronger. ... Making hard cuts, sprinting a little faster. The progress is getting better and better each day. So I'm just going along with the program."
Freeman was asked what he expects to be able to do when the Falcons begin organized team activities on May 21 leading into their mandatory minicamp from June 12-14.
"Just take it day by day, feel 100 percent healthy," Freeman said. "Be able to be ready for Game 1 but continue to get better each day while I'm here and take advantage of these opportunities."
Freeman, who signed a five-year, $41.25 million extension ($22 million guaranteed) last August, rushed for 865 yards on 196 carries with seven rushing touchdowns last season while missing two games due to a concussion. He also caught 36 passes for 317 yards and a score.
Pressed on when he might be back to full strength, Freeman said his recovery is "a process."
"I just want to take it one day at a time," he said. "I had a performance I didn't like [last] season. My mindset is I can never let that happen again. With that being said, just being 100 percent healthy is everything because I want to be free. I want to be full-go all the time. I don't want to be slowing down because of no nagging injury or I'm injured trying to go and I know I can't go.''
Freeman's backup, Tevin Coleman, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Falcons drafted Southern Mississippi's Ito Smith in the fourth round to be the third running back.
