MILESTONE: Peria Jerry gets some live action

Peria Jerry (94) and Vance Walker (61). Jerry is on the road to full recovery. (Curtis Compton/AJC)

FLOWERY BRANCH – Defensive tackle Peria Jerry, the team’s first round draft pick in 2009, took part in his first football action on Wednesday since suffering a gruesome knee injury last season.

They didn’t stop practice or blow a special horn, but Falcons coach Mike Smith said it was “milestone.”

Jerry, who was injured in the second game last season against Carolina, jumped into the one-on-one pass rushing drills. Understandably, he was a little rusty.

“He moved all right,” defensive line coach Ray Hamilton said. “I thought he moved OK.”

The Falcons plan to be cautious with Jerry’s return to full contact.

“We are going to be patient and ease into this,” Hamilton said. “We want to make sure that his legs get stronger. We don’t want to push him into anything yet where he has to be in there with 11 guys, but we are going to ease him into some drills.”

Jerry was hurt late in the fourth quarter of the 28-20 victory when he got tangled up in a pile and his left knee took a direct hit. He was treated on the field for several minutes before being removed on a cart.

He was cleared to return to practice just four days before the start of training camp. Before Wednesday, he took part in individual drills, but was not allow to have contact with other players.

“He’s coming along,” Hamilton said. “We just don’t’ know when we are going to put him in those situations. But he’s coming along.”

Date, Practice Times (public availability)

Friday, August 6 — Practice 10:15 – 11:55 a.m. (open to the public)

Falcons Allstate All-Access “Friday Night Lights”

Team Scrimmage at North Gwinnett High School – 7:30 p.m. (open to the public)

Saturday, August 7 — Mock Game at Flowery Branch – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)

Sunday, August 8 — No Practice.

Monday, August 9 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 4:40 p.m. (open to the public). COMBINED PRACTICES WITH JACKSONVILLE.

Tuesday, August 10 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public). COMBINED PRACTICES WITH JACKSONVILLE.

Wednesday, August 11 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (closed to the public); practice 3:45 – 4:40 p.m. (closed to the public).

Thursday, August 12 — Practice 8:50 – 10:55 a.m. (closed to the public); practice 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. (closed to the public).

Friday, August 13 — Preseason Week 1 vs. Kansas City 8 p.m.

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