Brady Smith closer to return from surgery

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - When Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Bill Johnson heard Brady Smith was to have neck surgery last month, he didn't know when - or if - he would have the veteran starter back.

"I had great concern," Johnson said Wednesday.

Now Smith has been cleared for some contact work off the field and plans to return to practice in at least a limited capacity Monday.

"We're taking it slow, but it's great to have him back," Johnson said.

As part of his goal of being ready for the Falcons' Sept. 12 season opener, Smith's plan is to play in the team's final preseason game on Sept. 1 at Miami.

When he had the cervical-region, nerve-root decompression surgery on July 17 in Rochester, N.Y., Smith was told he would miss at least six to 12 weeks. The Sept. 1 game is only a few days past the six-week target date.

"The doctors didn't have to repair anything or fuse anything," Smith said after watching Wednesday's practice, standing with his teammates. "They just opened me up and cleared out an area that was compressing a nerve and affecting my left arm and left shoulder."

Smith said his arm and shoulder already are 75 percent stronger than before the surgery. He began testing himself by hitting a blocking sled Tuesday.

With Smith, fellow starter Patrick Kerney (groin) and top backup Khaleed Vaughn (turf toe) out, Johnson was left with rookie Chauncey Davis, second-year player Gabe Nyenhuis and third-year player Junior Glymph as his top ends.

Vaughn returned to practice Tuesday and Kerney returned Wednesday.

"It was great. I felt alive again," Kerney said. "That was the first time in a while I didn't have to sit and peddle a bike."

Kerney suffered his injury in the team's last practice before leaving for its Aug. 6 preseason game in Tokyo.

Kerney said he won't rush back and attempt to play in the Falcons' home preseason game against Tennessee Friday night. "The reward for playing in that game is not great enough to offset the risk of playing," he said.

Even if Smith is not yet ready to start in the season opener, having him back at least watching practice while Kerney was back rushing the quarterback Wednesday was encouraging for Johnson.

"We're not going to rush those guys," Johnson said. "When you start dealing with those two guys, you let the sun go down and you check again tomorrow and see how they feel before you start making plans."

Smith, 32, had six sacks and 46 tackles last season. Kerney led the team with a career-best 13 sacks, fourth in the league, as the Falcons led the NFL with 48 sacks.

Coach Jim Mora and Johnson say Davis, the team's fourth-round draft pick from Florida State, and Nyenhuis have taken advantage of the chance for increased playing time.

"I think it has been really good for Chauncey Davis," Mora said. "He has shown us he can be a third end. He can play for us this year and be productive."

Mora said he also has taken note of Junior Glymph and Vaughn but added "I think the one guy that we didn't know about was Gabe, and he has taken advantage of it and has done a really nice job for us."

Nyenhuis is a second-year player from Colorado.

Notes: Linebacker Keith Brooking was held out with a quad injury that could keep him out of Friday night's game. "If it's bothering him at all, then we're not going to play him," Mora said.... The surprise of training camp may be receiver Cole Magner, an undrafted rookie receiver from Bowling Green. Magner (6-2, 196) had another strong day Wednesday working as the team's fifth receiver. He has two catches for 34 yards and two punt returns for 43 yards in preseason games. "He certainly catches your eye because he catches the ball," Mora said. Magner's nickname is "Sunshine" because of his blonde hair. "He's a competitor, he catches everything that's thrown to him, he can jump and he's athletic," Mora said.