The Facts: In 2017, Freeman missed two games, and was noticeably less effective while playing through a painful knee injury and dealt with a concussion issue. 2018 proved even worse. Freeman injured his groin in Week 1, attempted to return in Week 5, but was ultimately placed on injured reserve after participating in just two games with 14 total carries. The back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher in 2015-2016 believes his injury-ravaged campaigns have taught him to appreciate the good times. "I got stronger from that," Freeman said. "I learned how to be patient more. I [learned] better people skills. All around the stuff that I couldn't do, I took advantage of the stuff I could do. I have a greater appreciation for life."

Diehards Line:At the start of Falcons training camp, HC Dan Quinn sees a rejuvenated running back ready to once again plow over anyone who gets in his way. "I think during his injury, what can happen sometimes, is the joy can get taken," HC Dan Quinn said. "The injury is not only physical, it's mental. The work that he put in, the closer he got back to playing again, the joy of that came back a little bit again. On to the field, the energy that he brings is pretty contagious. Having him back out was a big deal." With Tevin Coleman gone to San Francisco, Freeman enters preseason as the clear-cut top back, with Ito Smith as the top sub likely to siphon carries, and Brian Hill and Qadree Ollison looking to carve out roles in training camp. Last season sans Freeman, the Falcons ground-game suffered, and the Atlanta offense never found consistency. The hope is a healthy, invigorated Free flips the script in 2019.