Falcons designate RB Cordarrelle Patterson for return

During Cordarrelle Patterson’s injury hiatus, the Falcons have climbed into first place in the NFC South. The increasingly run-oriented team may have its top running back in uniform soon.

The Falcons designated Patterson to return from IR on Wednesday. Patterson has been out with a knee injury, missing Atlanta’s past four games. Being designated for return would allow the decorated kick returner to play this weekend, but the Falcons have three weeks to activate the late-blooming back.

The NFL’s oldest active starting running back at 31, Patterson displayed continued explosiveness before going down with the knee ailment. He broke through for 120 rushing yards in Week 1 and set a new career-high mark with 141 against the Seahawks in Week 3. Patterson contributed to the Falcons’ Week 4 win over the Browns but went on IR shortly after.

An All-Decade return man, Patterson re-signed with the Falcons this offseason on a two-year, $10.5M deal. The Falcons have benefited from taking a flier on Patterson in 2021 and trying him at running back. The former receiver washout-turned-dominant kick returner finished with a career-high (by far) 1,166 scrimmage yards last season.