Corey Peters returns to practice for Atlanta Falcons

After a weekend marred by the injury to starting left tackle Sam Baker (and the subsequent positional switch for first round pick Jake Matthews), the Atlanta Falcons received a bit of positive news with regard to a player’s health and status on Monday afternoon. Defensive tackle Corey Peters, who signed a one-year contract after a season-ending injury in 2013, returned to practice for the first time since injuring his Achilles tendon.

The 26-year-old Peters was having easily the best season of his career prior to injury, as he posted 46 tackles and 5 sacks while generally wreaking havoc against opposing offensive lines. In the off-season, the Falcons bolstered the depth on their interior defensive line with acquisitions of Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson, but a healthy Peters would certainly bring a great deal of additional punch.

Multiple reports indicated that the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Peters wasn’t exceedingly active in his first stint on the field on Monday, but he has expressed optimism in being able to return in full by the beginning of the regular season.