Devin Hester: Likely to Miss Games with Turf Toe

Devin Hester is preparing to miss at least a few games for the Atlanta Falcons as he battles back from turf toe. With the greatest kick returner of all time out for likely the first two games of the season, where does the leave the Atlanta Falcons’ return game?

In Friday’s practice at Flowery Branch, Devin Hester worked with the training staff as he tries to get his turf toe under control. Hester did not play in the final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 3rd.

While some may argue that this injury is a result of Devin Hester spending too much time trying to again become a respectable receiving option for the Falcons, who’s to say that it didn’t first occur on the magnificent return against the New York Jets in Preseason Week 2.

Falcons Devin Hester (turf toe) prepared to sit out a couple games. http://t.co/5Ei7rMhAQx
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) September 11, 2015

Regardless, it serves both Devin Hester and the Atlanta Falcons to play on the side of caution with the toes of their lightning return man. Fortunately for the Atlanta Falcons, Hester has many suitable backups that can help the team as he recovers.

Atlanta is a tremendously deep team on special teams. It’s a testament to how good of a coach Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong is. He was one of eight men to interview for the Atlanta Falcons Head Coaching gig last season. I really think that Keith Armstrong will be a head coach in the NFL in the next few seasons.

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The Falcons should have three suitable replacements for Devin Hester in the return game: Justin Hardy, Eric Weems, and Nick Williams. Weems is a great special teamer and a sixth string receiver. Getting Weems back last year really helped get the Falcons back to good on special teams with his quickness as a gunner in the coverage game. He has shown a proclivity in the past in the return game as well.

Williams has experience returning kicks in college at UConn and in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Falcons in training camp. I love his shiftiness, vision and toughness to fight for the extra yards in the return game.

Lastly, Justin Hardy can help in the return, illustrated by his great punt returns against the Baltimore Ravens in the 4th Week of the Preseason. However, where I see Hardy making up for Hester’s absence more is at wide receiver.

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Hardy will have to become the no-doubt 4th receiver option for QB Matt Ryan now that Devin Hester isn’t in the picture for the first few weeks. Though I expect both Weems and Williams to help in the receiving game as well, look for Justin Hardy to receive more of what would have been Devin Hester’s targets in these first few games.

Though the Atlanta Falcons would like to have the greatest return man of all time back in business for Week 1, I think all parties agree that it’s best for everyone to not rush Devin Hester back from his turf toe injury. The Atlanta Falcons are more than deep enough to make up for his extended absence in the aggregate.

Only 2 more days until it is time for Monday Night Football. Your Atlanta Falcons will host the Philadelphia Eagles in the first of two Monday Night Games on ESPN in Week 1. Atlanta enters the affair with the Eagles as a 1-point underdog at home.

Bias aside, this is a tough game to pick, but do expect both teams to play fast in the season opener. A win in Week 1 will go a long way in getting either the Atlanta Falcons or the Philadelphia Eagles back in the NFC Playoffs. Rise Up, Atlanta!

Next: Thomas Dimitroff: Entering 2015 Already on the Hot Seat?

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