FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. _ Through the magical healing powers of the bye week, the Falcons (3-1) could be close to full-strength when they face the Miami Dolphins (2-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Several key starters returned to practice on Monday and only one of the 22 opening day starters _ wide receiver Mohamed Sanu _ appears to be a long shot to face the Dolphins.
Starting right tackle Ryan Schraeder and free safety Ricardo Allen are out of the concussion protocol and were practicing. Also, wide receiver Julio Jones (hip flexor) and defensive end Vic Beasley (hamstring) were practicing during the early portion of practice that was open to the media.
Sanu (hamstring), defensive tackle Courtney Upshaw (ankle) and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds (pectoral) were working off to the side with the training staff.
"Injury-wise, we had a lot of guys back today," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. "Man, that was good to see ... you could tell how hard they worked during the off time."
Schraeder suffered a concussion early in the second game of the season against Green Bay on Sept. 17. Ty Sambrailo took over and finished that game and started against Detroit on Sept. 24 and Buffalo on Oct. 1.
Beasley suffered a strain right hamstring in the Green Bay game.
Allen suffered a concussion against Detroit after a big-hit on wide receiver T.J. Jones late in the game. Rookie Damontae Kazee started for him in the Buffalo game.
Jones suffered his injury against Buffalo and didn't play in the second half.
The Falcons placed defensive tackle Jack Crawford, who suffered a torn pectoral muscle against Buffalo on injured reserved last week.
"We are so bummed for Jack and the energy that he (brought)," Quinn said. "That was definitely a setback for us. We'll miss him for sure."
The Falcons haven't made a corresponding roster move and may be keeping a spot open for Reynold's return.
Upshaw and Joe Vellano can play tackle. Last season, the Falcons play Derrick Shelby at tackle before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
"We feel better about where our health is than maybe a week ago," Quinn said. "But we are fortunate that if we have to, we have other guys here that we feel have the versatility to play in the different spots. We are encouraged about where we are today without making any other moves."
The offense should get a boost from the return of Schraeder.
"Having two weeks off, I'm just going to go out there and give everything that I've got," Schraeder said. "It takes a few days to get back going again. We go so hard and fast in practice."
Sambrailo, who was acquired in a trade with Denver for a fifth-round draft pick on Sept. 1, filled in for Schraeder. He was solid in run blocking, but struggled at times in pass protection.
Last season, the Falcons started the same offensive line for all 19 games.
"We do really believe that we are the fastest (offensive) line coming of the ball," Schraeder said. "The most violent. We really do emphasize that. It might take me a couple of days to adjust, but mentally I'm there."
Quinn felt that Sambrailo stepped up with Schraeder out.
"I was pleased to see a guy like Ty step up into the space that he had," Quinn said.
Schraeder was injured while pulling out to lead running back Devonta Freeman into the endzone.
"It was a weird play and it didn't look like much," Schraeder said. "I pulled out there and the corner was going to cut me. I went down and lowered my shoulder. I was going to hit him with my shoulder, but he came here (pointing to the back of his head) with either the knee or the helmet. It hit me in the back of the head, which was weird because I don't get hit in the back of the head ever. It just kind of got me."
Allen was injured after he leveled Detroit wide receiver T.J. Jones with a thunderous hit at the end of a 29-yard gain on the Lions' unsuccessful last-ditch drive, which ended with the 10-second run-off.
"The team did a really good job of taking care of me and not rushing me back," Allen said. "Not forcing me to come back. They showed comfort through all of my time out. I'm just happy to be back."
With Allen and Beasley back, the defense has a chance to field the 11-man unit that opened the season in Chicago on Sept. 10.
"Those are some great players and guys you can't replace," cornerback Desmond Trufant said. "So, it's definitely good to have them back. We'll have a good week of practice and get back to it on Sunday."
