Falcon Report

Falcons Ex QB A.J. McCarron Eyes NFL Return: Could Atlanta Re-Sign?

McCarron was on the roster a year ago.

Jeremy Brener

When Atlanta Falcons quarterback A.J. McCarron tore his ACL during the preseason a year ago, the 30-year-old's career was put on life support.

It isn't easy for a backup quarterback in his 30s to return to the NFL after a gruesome injury, but that doesn't mean McCarron won't try.

“I feel great,” McCarron said on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Monday. “I was blessed to have a great team around me with Dr. (Lyle) Cain, our doctor at Alabama, and Kevin Wilk, who I did a bunch of my rehab with. I got cleared at four-and-a-half months out from surgery, so I’ve just been working on the strength and getting everything back normal, and I really feel great right now."

If McCarron finds a spot on an NFL roster this season, it probably won't be a return to Atlanta. The team signed Marcus Mariota to be the starter earlier this offseason and drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round of the NFL Draft. The team also rosters Feleipe Franks, who can play both quarterback and tight end.

The quarterback market feels thin this offseason, with several teams opting for veterans instead of rookie options through the draft, but McCarron is still holding out hope.

“You never know what your future holds, what it is in this game, so I’m just ready, waiting for a call," McCarron said. "But right now, I’m enjoying my time off and being able to be a dad and being around my three boys for the first time in a while.”

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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