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"I'm extremely excited for Week 1," Jackson told the team's official website. "It's been a training camp that I missed the majority of the time, but I've been working hard physically and mentally to prepare for this coming Sunday; I feel good about it."
As AtlantaFalcons.com's Reid Ferrin noted, Jackson is the only active running back in the NFL to record at least 10,000 rushing yards and 3,500 receiving yards, just one of 10 players in NFL history to accomplish that feat; he's quick to credit Marty Lauzon, the Falcons Director of Sports Medicine and Performance, and his staff for allowing him to get back on the field to add to those stats, helping his team.
"I think Marty and his training staff are the best in the NFL," Jackson said. "They've shown, time after time, not only with myself, but with the other guys here, that when we return to the field, we're able to play with the type of capabilities that we had before the injury."
In 10 seasons, Jackson has logged 2,553 carries for 10,681 yards (4.2 yards per carry) with 62 touchdowns. He's the NFL’s active rushing leader and has posted eight-straight 1,000-yard seasons, between 2005-2012. In 2013, he rushed for 543 yards on 157 carries (3.5 yards per carry), with six touchdowns in his first season with the Falcons, also adding 33 receptions for 191 yards and one TD.
Despite limited reps in preseason practices, Jackson spent extra time not only with Lauzon and his staff, but also in the film room, where he took plenty of notes on the New Orleans Saints defense, hopefully providing an edge Sunday.
"They do a really good job of mixing in their personnel, bringing a lot of different defensive fronts and blitz packages," Jackson said of the Saints. "That means our offensive line and the running backs have to communicate and make sure we're seeing the same picture; we just have to be prepared for it."
It should be noted that Jackson's return means the Falcons will roll with running by committee that also include Antone Smith, Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman.
"It will be a great way to kick off the season against a division opponent, a very good football team," head coach Mike Smith said. "I know our guys will be focused about starting the regular season. It's about to get real here, real quick."
Smith continued to shine with more playing time this summer. He took a screen pass 66 yards for a touchdown against Jacksonville in the exhibition season finale. He's earned some carries alongside Jackson.
Smith finished the exhibition season with 77 yards on three receptions while adding 36 yards on 19 carries. He averaged more than five yards per touch from scrimmage.
Freeman, a rookie fourth-round pick, also played well. Pass protection concerns may limit his carries early on.
"The big thing for Devonta is going to be getting pass protection in the NFL," Smith said. "Running backs in the NFL have to be involved in protection. But in terms of when the ball is in his hands, he's been a very dynamic player in the preseason. He's been explosive. He runs well behind his pads and he's got very good vision."
Freeman rushed for a game-high 42 yards on 12 carries while adding 45 yards on five receptions, including a 21-yard gain against Jacksonville.
He finished the preseason as the team's leading rusher as he posted 134 yards on 32 carries (4.2 yards per carry) with one touchdown on the ground. Freeman was also the club's leading receiver, with 146 yards on 11 catches, including a 57-yard catch and run against Miami.
It'll be interesting to see how the workload is divided going forward.