There is a fifty percent chance that the Falcons will see defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux return to the lineup this weekend against the Green Bay Packers, as he was listed as questionable on this week’s injury report. Babineaux suffered a sprained MCL in the season opener against the Bears and has missed the past four games. He participated on a limited basis in all three days of practice this week. Also listed as questionable is defensive end John Abraham. Abraham was added to the injury report on Friday due to a hip injury. If Abraham is unable to go, then it’s likely Kroy Biermann will make his first start of the season at right end. Peria Jerry has filled in admirably for Babineaux the past three games at left defensive tackle.

Fellow defensive end Cliff Matthews (knee) and center Todd McClure (knee) will be out this week. Neither practiced this week. McClure missed the first two games of the season with a knee injury, returning to the lineup against the Buccaneers in Week 3. But he re-injured his knee last week midway through the Falcons contest against the Seahawks. He will be replaced by Joe Hawley in the lineup, who has now logged two starts and extensive playing time in a third game so far this year.

Also returning the lineup should be linebacker Stephen Nicholas, who missed the past two games with a calf strain. He practiced on a limited basis this week and is listed as probable. Roddy White (thigh), Jason Snelling (concussion), William Moore (neck), Chris Owens (ankle), and tight end Michael Palmer (ankle) are also listed as probable, as all were able to fully participate in Friday’s practice.

For the Packers, right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee), safety Nick Collins (neck), defensive Mike Neal (knee), and linebacker Frank Zombo (shoulder) are all out this weekend. Tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) is doubtful and linebacker Brad Jones (hamstring) is questionable.

Last week linebacker Mike Peterson got the start in stead of Stephen Nicholas, who was out with a calf strain. Peterson was spelled on passing downs by Spencer Adkins. It’s likely the Falcons will employ the same rotation this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks since Nicholas was declared out for the second straight week.

Also listed as out on the Falcons injury report, released Friday afternoon, were defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (knee), running back Jason Snelling (concussion), and defensive end Cliff Matthews (knee). For the third straight game, Peria Jerry will start in place of the injured Babineaux. Snelling suffered his injury last week vs. Tampa Bay and will mean more opportunities for Jacquizz Rodgers as Michael Turner’s primary backup.

Wide receiver Roddy White (thigh) was listed as questionable after being able to go on a limited basis in Friday’s practice after sitting out both Wednesday and Thursday. White has never missed a game entering his seventh season in the NFL.

The Falcons will expect cornerback Kelvin Hayden back this week after being inactive with a hamstring injury last week. Hayden was listed as probable along with offensive tackle Sam Baker (ankle) and linebacker Curtis Lofton (foot). Both Baker and Lofton were limited during Wednesday’s practice but gave full participation on both Thursday and Friday.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that the Falcons have re-signed free agent running back Jason Snelling to a one-year deal.

Snelling had been shopping his services to multiple teams over the past week, but ultimately decided to re-up with the Falcons. Snelling adds key depth at the running back position, where the Falcons were likely to rely on rookie Jacquizz Rodgers as the primary reserve to Michael Turner. Snelling served primarily as the team’s third down back the past two seasons, but had filled in admirably as an injury replacement for Turner last season and in the previous year.

It seems like the Falcons and free agent running back Jason Snelling are playing a game of cat and mouse. Early reports over the weekend were that the Falcons were hard at work trying to retain Snelling, but the free agent was intent on testing the market. It seemed like a few days ago he was very close to signing with the St. Louis Rams, but that proved to be untrue. They opted to sign ex-Falcons Jerious Norwood. Then the New York Giants came calling, but that was mainly a ruse to try and force Ahmad Bradshaw’s hand. Now, reports serviced yesterday that Snelling was in Kansas City to work out for them.

The clock is ticking on whether or not Snelling can get a good free agent offer. Signed free agents will begin practicing today around the league, and it’s likely that the market will slow to a virtual crawl after this point in most cities. Thrice now, Snelling has been spurned by other teams that have shown interest in him, but ultimately settled on other options. Part of that could be that Snelling’s contract demands are too high, part of it may be those teams ultimately preferred other options.

The early buzz on Jacquizz Rodgers has been positive in camp, and it’s possible that the Falcons have moved on past Snelling while he’s put his feelers out in free agency. If that’s true, it would be a mistake. While Rodgers could potentially handle the third down role this year, keeping Snelling means he doesn’t have to. The Falcons won’t have to rely on him to be that guy, instead they can work him slowly into the lineup and pick and choose his spots. When it comes to protecting their franchise quarterback, it makes sense for the Falcons to put their best foot forward, which is Snelling as Turner’s top backup.

With the Falcons picking up 24 undrafted free agents, including yesterday’s addition of Georgia Tech wide receiver Kevin Cone, it is time to revisit what these two dozen players are bringing to the table in terms of this summer’s camp battles.

The undrafted rookies get somewhat a reprieve, since labor rules prevent veteran free agents from practicing until tomorrow. That means that these players all had the opening weekend to showcase their skills before some veterans were able to come in and outshine them.

Here is a position by position look at where these undrafted players fit in on the Falcons roster outlook:

Quarterback – As said before, Froman is a fourth arm that might have a shot at a practice squad position, but he’s not in a legitimate position to push for a roster spot unless there is an injury to either Chris Redman or John Parker Wilson. He’s more of a long-term developmental project for the Falcons.

Running Back – If the Falcons fail to bring back Jason Snelling, it certainly should increase the changes that Philip Sylvester can make the roster. But he’ll have to beat out both Gartrell Johnson and Antone Smith for that third running back spot. And his only way to do that will either to shine on special teams or show a short learning curve when it comes to pass protections. Snelling’s departure also increases the chances that either Thor Merrow or Lucas Cox can crack the roster as the backups to Ovie Mughelli at fullback. The team will be looking both at blocking ability and special teams production.

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D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that the Falcons have signed both of their remaining draft picks, inking deals with first round wide receiver Julio Jones and fifth round running back Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons came to terms with their other four draft picks earlier today. Although terms of their deals have yet to be disclosed, both players signed four-year deals. Because Jones is a first round pick, the team has an option to add a fifth year in 2015, which will be equal to the average of the top ten salaries for wide receivers. That figure was $8.65 million based of 2010 salaries.

UPDATE: Zach Klein of WSB-TV reports that Jones signed a four-year deal worth $16.2 million, all of which is guaranteed.

Snelling: Turner's successor?

Hopefully in the comings days or weeks, the NFL will be back open for business. And when that happens, we will get a free agency period. It’s no secret that the Falcons will need to make some decisions about their own free agents. Chief among them are their three starters along the offensive line, but also the Falcons will need to also prioritize bringing back Jason Snelling.

Keeping Snelling probably isn’t as hard now as it might have been in March. This past April, 24 running backs (not including fullbacks) were drafted, the most in over a dozen drafts. That means that the market for free agent running backs is much more lukewarm as many teams were able to fill their chief needs at that position with rookies.

That is not going to mean a player like Snelling won’t get any nibbles from other teams looking to sign him. But it is another positive that there are several other bigger-named free agents on the market such as DeAngelo Williams, Ahmad Bradshaw, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, and Joseph Addai, so it’s very unlikely any team will be offering Snelling a starter’s role and salary elsewhere.

The decision the Falcons have to make in regards to Snelling is not whether they want him back, but how much are they willing to pay to keep him. For the previously mentioned reasons, Snelling’s market value isn’t going to be huge, so it’s unlikely he’s going to price himself out of Atlanta. Whatever he asks for, the Falcons are likely going to be able to afford. But it all raises a question of what do the Falcons see as Snelling’s future value, and are they going to be willing to pay a premium for it?

As of today, Snelling’s primary value is as a third down back. According to Pro Football Focus, he is one of the best pass catchers among his position group in the league. And he’s also shown that he can be a valuable replacement on the occasions when Michael Turner has been injured over the past two seasons.

However, one wonders how much confidence these spot performances inspire in the Falcons brass? Do they see Snelling as a legit successor to Michael Turner? Do they see him as a future 1000-yard rusher in this league?

The answers to these questions certainly could be used as leverage points for Snelling and his agent when it comes to negotiations. If the answers are yes, then it could mean the difference a several million.

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What shakes out at the running back position will heavily depend on what happens in free agency for the Falcons. Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood are both free agents. All signs indicate that the Falcons want to bring Snelling back, but there’s no guarantee that will happen and he could walk. The selection of Jacquizz Rodgers in the draft will likely push Norwood out the door, but the possibility of his return increases if Snelling signs elsewhere.

Unlike Matt Ryan at the quarterback position, the Falcons should not have to spend a ton of time and effort getting Michael Turner ready for the season. Although that could change if the Falcons aren’t keen on Turner’s conditioning when camp opens up. Hopefully, unlike past off-seasons, Turner put in the extra time to try and be in top conditioning in order to hit the ground running when football reconvenes.

If that is the case, then the Falcons can spend the extra reps trying to get Jacquizz Rodgers up to speed, particularly working in passing situations and on protections. If the Falcons lose both free agents, it will become paramount that Rodgers gets up to speed as quickly as possible since he will likely be the team’s top option on third downs since that was the primary role in which both Snelling and Norwood served the past three seasons.

Depending on how Rodgers does in that area will likely determine the chances that either Gartrell Johnson or Antone Smith remain Falcons in 2011. Both players’ experience makes them suitable alternatives if Rodgers, at least early in the season, isn’t up to the task. Johnson is the likelier of the pair to make the roster since he passed Smith on the depth chart during the course of 2010. His size and power make him a more suitable alternative in the event of injuries and the team needs an option to fill in on the ground. He was also slightly more productive of the pair on special teams as well.

At fullback, Pro Bowler Ovie Mughelli’s job is safe. The Falcons may toy with the idea of bringing another lead blocker to camp to add depth. The chances that happens increase if Snelling departs, since he’s the primary backup there. Although the Falcons might try and use their reserve tight ends as H-backs in such an event. Michael Palmer would have the best opportunity there.

Falcons Wrap Camp Exile

The Falcons finished their final day of what has been dubbed “Camp Exile” on Wednesday. That was the name of the player-organized sessions which primarily featured 7-on-7 workouts between offensive and defensive players. Matt Ryan, Curtis Lofton, and Coy Wire got majority credit for organizing the workouts that had varying attendance between 20 and 35 teammates over recent weeks. Perhaps the most noteworthy accomplishment for the camp was the ability for Ryan and top rookie wide receiver Julio Jones to lay a foundation and work to build a rapport for the upcoming season. (Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC)

Roddy confident about Falcons offense

On an appearance on NFL Network on Sunday Night, Falcons receiver Roddy White was brimming with confidence and expectations when asked about the potential success that the Falcons could have with rookie receiver Julio Jones added to the mix. White compared it to the famous St. Louis Rams offense of 1999, often dubbed the “Greatest Show on Turf.” It currently ranks as the 5th most potent scoring offense in NFL history, and until it’s record was broken by the 2007 Patriots, ranked first in terms of point differential between points scored and allowed by the defense.

It’s going to be special. It’s going to remind you of the greatest show on turf. We got a lot of explosive players and you know, I see a lot more explosive plays coming out of our offense. [Julio Jones] is a guy that can get downfield and make those things happen. And more one on one coverages with me so I can do my thing and get explosive plays.

(Source: NFL.com)

Snelling wants to stay in Atlanta, but willing to explore options

In an interview with Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk Live, Falcons running Jason Snelling shared his thoughts on the current CBA negotiations as well as his potential future with the Falcons. Snelling is expected to be an impending free agent if the new Collective Bargaining Agreement returns to players with four years or more being unrestricted free agent. Snelling indicated that he would like to return to the Falcons as they are at the top of his list, but also would be willing to explore other options in free agency if possible. (Source: Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk)

Jacquizz Rodgers

The Falcons moved up in the fifth round to select Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers this past April. The team is hopeful that Rodgers can provide a spark on the ground using his trademark quickness that allowed him to rack up 3,877 rushing yards during three seasons at Oregon State. Another big part of Rodgers success was in the passing game, catching 151 passes for 1,056 yards to give him the second-most yards (4,933) from scrimmage in the country over the past three years.

But in order for Rodgers to make an immediate impact on offense for the Falcons will highly depend on his ability to pass protect. Pro Football Focus published numbers indicating that Michael Turner and Jason Snelling are two of the better pass protecting running backs in the league over the past three seasons. Turner scored a 3.93 pass blocking efficiency rating over the past 3 seasons, while Snelling had a rating of 4.3. Even Jerious Norwood wouldn’t have been much further down with a 4.71 rating. The Falcons relied heavily on Snelling in pass protection last season on third downs.

It’s no doubt that the Falcons will try to mix Rodgers in on third downs. His potential as a pass catcher is far greater than any back on the roster. His burst, vision, and quickness makes him an ideal candidate on screen passes, and is the type of guy that can pick up big yards after the catch when Matt Ryan checks down to him. But how much production he can achieve in the passing game will depend on his ability in pass protection.

But the most important aspect of a third down back is his ability in pass protection. More often than not on third downs, he’s going to be blocking more than actually running or catching the football.

Rodgers has potential there, but his lack of size hurt him at various times during his Oregon State career. He has the toughness for an undersized guy that you like to see, showing an edge comparable to players like Maurice Jones-Drew. But if he cannot be trusted in pass protection, then whatever advantage is gained from his potential as a receiver will be negated by the risk of injury to franchise player Matt Ryan that is raised if Rodgers isn’t up to par. Clearly, the Falcons have a fairly reliable set of blockers with Snelling and Turner to turn to. So if Rodgers cannot perform on a comparable level, then he’ll be on the outside looking in.

The expectations for Rodgers this year should be that he may take some time before he can garner significant reps on offense. As the season wears on however, should be a good indicator to what Rodgers is doing in pass protection, which will likely be directly linked to his playing time. All that said, Rodgers probably is not going to have a huge rookie season. But his development in the passing game will likely determine the future of Jason Snelling beyond this year. Snelling is a prospective free agent, but presumably will be re-signed before the 2011 season commences. But his long-term future in Atlanta may be directly linked by how much Rodgers can contribute on third downs.