Jason

Snelling

We didn’t see the play that knocked Snelling out of the game, but head injury is often code for concussion. He had just two catches for three yards before exiting with the injury.

Snelling had been playing as a backup to Michael Turner and FB Ovie Mughelli before the Week 3 injury. Jacquizz Rodgers will continue to pick up snaps on passing downs, though he’s not a fantasy option just yet.

Snelling couldn’t pass his concussion tests in time, so he’ll be held out and try to return in Week 5. Jacquizz Rodgers will fill in on passing downs.

The move takes a rock-solid third-down back off the market, and is another aggressive re-signing as Atlanta works to keep its own. They’ve also retained FS Thomas DeCoud and DE Kroy Biermann, and franchise tagged top CB Brent Grimes. Snelling, 28, finished last season with just 70 offensive touches, but is the Falcons’ best back in pass protection and contributes on special teams. He’ll be pushed for passing-down snaps by Jacquizz Rodgers in 2012.

Snelling will likely be available by Saturday, but he’s not even a flex option as Michael Turner’s backup.

We wondered why Michael Turner, and not Snelling, was pass protecting late in the game. Blitz pickup has long been one of Snelling’s strengths. The impending free agent received four touches against the Giants, gaining 16 yards. Atlanta may look to revamp its offensive backfield this offseason, and Snelling isn’t a safe bet to return with rookie Jacquizz Rodgers coming on strong.

It’s another sign that the Falcons are going to scale back Michael Turner’s role. On top of showing no burst through the hole at age 29, Turner’s passing-game skills are well below average. He’s caught 51 passes in 118 NFL games, an average of 0.4 per contest. If free agent Jason Snelling returns to Atlanta, he figures to see a boost in touches.

Snelling got some extra work as the Falcons jumped out to a 42-0 lead. The nine carries were a season-high as Michael Turner stayed healthy and relatively effective for the entire season. Snelling’s fifth season ends with 44 carries for 151 yards and 26 catches for 179 yards. He’ll serve as Turner’s handcuff as the Falcons go on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

Snelling saw his yards and touches cut in half as the Falcons worked in rookie Jacquizz Rodgers this season, and did extremely little with the ball on the rare occasions he got it. Snelling should draw interest on the open market as a low cost passing-down back.

The Falcons did sign a lead blocker in Mike Cox, so there’s no clear-cut “handcuff” situation for Michael Turner owners. We suspect Snelling would see the majority of the early-down carries in the event of a Turner injury, with Jacquizz Rodgers entering as a change-of-pace and passing-down specialist.