The Falcons returned wide receiver/kick returner Devin Hester to the 53-man roster, just in time for Hester to play on Sunday in the team’s first game since he became eligible to return from injured reserve with the designation to return.
Hester has not played at all this season because of a toe injury, which led the Falcons to rule him out of several games before going ahead with taking the step of placing him on injured reserve. Wide receiver Roddy White suggested this week that the Falcons need to make more deep throws, which could offer a role for Hester on offense in addition to a presumed return to return duties for the NFL’s all-time leader in return touchdowns.
To clear space for Hester on the roster, the Falcons have placed wide receiver Leonard Hankerson on injured reserve. Hankerson missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury and missed three of the last four games overall.
Hankerson had 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns this season, his first with the Falcons, and is set to be a free agent come 2016.