Ryan will be ready to join Falcons’ offseason workouts
Published: February 26th, 2010 | Tags: 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan, Mike Smith
INDIANAPOLIS — Falcons QB Matt Ryan, who sustained a right turf toe injury in Week 12, has resumed running and will be healthy enough to join the team in offseason workouts when they begin March 22.
Ryan played the final three games of the season with the injury after missing two games, but he spent most of his offseason staying off the foot until recently.
“We don’t anticipate him having any setbacks between now and when we start March 22,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He’s actually back running.”
Smith said Ryan was initially supposed to be sidelined for six weeks, but the QB returned in two to start — and win — the final three games. He wore a special shoe to protect the injury.
The Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention shortly after Ryan’s return, but he declined to shut down his season in order to help the franchise post its first back-to-back winning seasons since its inception in 1966.
“That says a lot about the type of man Matt is,” Smith said.
Atlanta finished 9-7 after posting an 11-5 record in 2008, Ryan’s rookie season.