Updated: Dent returns to contact practice, will play Friday
Falcons linebacker Akeem Dent at the team's facilities the day after he was drafted in 2011. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/Dledbetter@ajc.com)
Vivlamore reporting from Flowery Branch. Here is the news of the day and some other notes from practice.
Falcons first-string middle linebacker Akeem Dent returned to contact practice Sunday after being cleared from a concussion. He will play in Friday’s third exhibition game against the Dolphins.
Dent had been in the NFL’s concussion protocol after he suffered a head injury in the exhibition season opener against the Ravens. He was injured on punt coverage in the second quarter. Dent missed last week’s game against the Bengals.
“He participated today fully and he is ready to go,” coach Mike Smith said after Sunday’s final practice of training camp. “We anticipate that he will be ready to go [Friday] barring any injuries that may take place between now and then.”
Dent, the second-year player out of Georgia, has been the top middle linebacker in training camp since the season-ending loss of Lofa Tatupu before the start of camp. Dent is replacing Curtis Lofton, last season’s leading tackler.
“I think it’s very important not only in the evaluation period, but the maturation process,” Smith said of Dent playing Friday. “We want him to be out there on the field playing the game full speed. We only got to evaluate him part of one game.
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48 comments Add your comment
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
12:33 pm
Playing the Dolphins hey………………Falcons should score about 6 touchdowns against them if the team is who they say they are………………..Lets see the Falcons actually bombard another opponent and not let up until the final whistle blows…………………………………………………..
The Real Falcon
August 19th, 2012
12:57 pm
Maybe we can keep him off special teams. Still think it’s a bad idea for a starter with no real backup to play there.
explosive linebacker
August 19th, 2012
1:52 pm
We need Dent to stay healthy.
Tyson706
August 19th, 2012
2:01 pm
Good. Please keep him off of special teams. We need him. I’m expecting big things this year.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
August 19th, 2012
2:31 pm
It will be good to see Akeem back on the field. I hope he can stay healthy this year because he has the potential to become an impact player for the Falcons.
Chris Vivlamore
August 19th, 2012
2:45 pm
Folks: Updated the blog above with some additional notes from today’s practice. Enjoy.
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
3:03 pm
I can imagine Matt bring enthusiastic so far this preseason…………….anytime you can keep from being clobbered is a good thing most especially after getting nailed so much last regular season……………….
Stay upright Matt…………..we need ya in there to be a contender in the NFC this year !
JSS
August 19th, 2012
3:11 pm
Redman and John Parker must be laughing at that assessment of the line play… Oh wait, they are about to be unemployed!
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
3:22 pm
Pink Slips…….there’s always Home Depot, surely Mr. Blank can work something out………………………….
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
3:49 pm
Completely missed this fella……………aka…..Cornerback Christopher Owens (hamstring)………………….
so ……………….add him to the ” what have u done for me lately ? ” list……………..
Esquire
August 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
“Ryan said. “I keep telling them ‘Keep that up and it’s going to be fun year.’”
You betcha!!!! Championships are a lot of fun!
Esquire
August 19th, 2012
3:56 pm
JSS
Redman won’t be going anywhere…………!!
CGD..
August 19th, 2012
4:04 pm
Predictions: The Fak-cons are going to get crushed again by the #27th ranked Defense in the Playoffs! PLAYOFFS?
Smith= Wade Phillips, hes gone..
Melt= give him a clip board
Have we seen this B4? Yep…Blah Blah Blah
CGD..
August 19th, 2012
4:07 pm
Did not the Fal-cons go 0-4 in their Preseason games last year too?
Looks like History is about to repeat itself..Wow!
Playoffs! Playoffs? Oh the Humanity!
CGD..
August 19th, 2012
4:12 pm
Chandler to Julio! They did what?
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
4:30 pm
wow ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ talk about drinkin some kool-aid……………………………………..CGD , Chandler was a ” one year hero “, never made it without Anderson’s superior running back ability…………………………
CGD..
August 19th, 2012
4:36 pm
Stay upright Matty Melt?
How bout step up into the pocket like the Great Eli Manning does all the time as the pocket collapses around him..1st down! Touchdown! He did what??????????????????????
Naw forget it! Either ya got it [pocket presence] or ya don’t.
Next QB, step right up…
SirReal
August 19th, 2012
5:55 pm
Good stuff from the Branch. I’m sure they are glad to go home. Gotta enjoy it before the long grind that is the NFL season. Glad to have Dent back. Looking forward to seeing him get significant work. Ryan has been lights out this preseason. He looks different…I mean demeanor-wise. I think he finally has an offense he likes and an OC who understands Baker is a liability and deploys schemes to help him out. Just hope Turner’s got one more good year in him. Still my fantasy back. I believe he still has to have something left.
@CGD (Cynical Grim Dude) I hear ya my friend. Eli is great…and his O-line’s also always been. I’m just sayin’.LOL
falcfvr
August 19th, 2012
6:11 pm
Esquire
August 19th, 2012
3:56 pm
ESQURIE…………..
JSS
Redman won’t be going anywhere…………!!
Redman must have incriminating photo’s of you and coach Smith and he is blackmailing the both of you. Redman plays like a scared girl. We need players that take it to the other team not give it to them. Wilson and Redman S#&K. Just sayin/…………..
Rick
August 19th, 2012
6:23 pm
Never good to see hammys in preseason. Especially w a speed position. We are expecting big thing out of Owens (finally) and I hope he can’t rest this out
John
August 19th, 2012
6:43 pm
I am happy to here that Dent will be back. We difinitely need him. I would love to ses more coverage on Dominic Davis. He was the lone bright spot in a boring second half. he by far has been the second best quarterback on the team. If the starter goes down, we have nothing to turn to.
CGD..
August 19th, 2012
6:49 pm
CGD means Chandler Going Deep Genius…LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Imagine Chandler throwing those 55 yard perfect spirals to Julio!!! OH the Humanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top 10 plays…Oh well we got Ice Melt..Yawn……………….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
CGD..
August 19th, 2012
6:52 pm
Hey Matt don’t feel too bad about the doughnut you laid against the Giants last year..
The mighty Jets scored a lousy 3 points against them last night! wow.
CGD..
August 19th, 2012
6:55 pm
News Flash: Eli makes his O-line look better cause he is a far superior QB than the overrated over paid [Joe Johnson] of Football the great Choke himself Ice Melt….
AlanFalcon
August 19th, 2012
6:57 pm
I guess that those of you that watch the Falcons last week don’t understand that D. Davis was competeing against The Bengals bottom feeders, you know, the one’s that are in camp for numbers only !!!!!!!!!!!
Laughing out Loud
August 19th, 2012
6:59 pm
Jackels!
El Snipero
August 19th, 2012
7:01 pm
Akeem Dent is back at practice.
The Saints LB Chris Chamberlain won’t be back for the season. Uh Ohhhhhh, Saints have depth problems!
Bwahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa!
Falcon Jim
August 19th, 2012
7:02 pm
Considering this regime’s considerative nature, I’m afraid Redman will continue to be the back up QB (for experience sake) and Davis will be on the practice squat. I hope I’m wrong….
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
7:03 pm
Lets see how they play in a ” Smitty make believe it counts game ” come next Friday night in Florida, and if they are for real then should be a heavy duty spanking of the Dolphins. I want to see another game like that 1st quarter they had with the Ravens……………..that was fun to watch, hopefully it don’t go away.
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
7:08 pm
and shocking too ! ! !
SirReal
August 19th, 2012
8:07 pm
CGD…you’re laughing b/c you know it was funny.lol Man, you’ve been on this blog for a while. I know what it really is.lol Figured your more depressive alter ego was Cynical Grim Dude.
Eli doesn’t make his line look that hot….(but he does have a quick release most of the time.lol I’ll give him that for sure.) Ryan is our QB whether people like it or not. Do I still question a couple things he does? Sure. However, I honestly see a different guy THUS FAR in the preseason than years past. When I went to the Branch, I saw a different demeanor. He may be ready and at LEAST this year…and maybe just this year…I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s just see what he does. Eli the Great was knocked for a while too before he finally got his due.
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
8:10 pm
Eli was little brother Eli at one time………………….laughin here
Michael M.
August 19th, 2012
8:26 pm
Colts look like last year’s Colts…………missed tackles=touchdown.
eastbound and down
August 20th, 2012
7:13 am
I can’t help but question the NFL’s “concussion protocol” When the league has to pony up several million to settle the lawsuits, i think an entirely new protocol will be in place.
observer
August 20th, 2012
9:14 am
I hope the Falcons are trying to do something about the MLB position. They can’t be seriously considering playing the season with Dent and Peterson at that position.
Esquire
August 20th, 2012
9:36 am
falcfvr
August 19th, 2012
6:11 pm
Redman must have incriminating photo’s of you and coach Smith and he is blackmailing the both of you. Redman plays like a scared girl. We need players that take it to the other team not give it to them. Wilson and Redman S#&K. Just sayin/…………..
____________________________________________
Don’t misinterpret what I wrote………….it’s simple: Redman will be your #2 behind Ryan and Davis very well could unseat Billy Bob Joe Tom John Parker Wilson at the #3 slot. As a backup Redman has been solid. Wilson could end up at Indy in a back up role. Not sure what you expect from a back up but I’d take Redman over most.
Akeem Dent Returns to Contact Practice, Set to Start Friday « The Falcon Project
August 20th, 2012
11:42 am
[...] Falcons second-year middle linebacker Akeem Dent was cleared to return to contact practice Sunday. Dent suffered a concussion in the first preseason game versus the [...]
single white dove
August 20th, 2012
12:17 pm
We are in trouble, after the first team we have scrubs! Another winning season without a playoff win…
I just usually read but...
August 20th, 2012
2:13 pm
Hey TD, Shawne Merriman has been released. Go get em, He fits your agenda, old, injured and sign cheap,
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