The Falcons returned to mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and Arthur Smith was available to speak to members of the media. One important note was his statement on Cordarrelle Patterson, who will not participate in camp.
Arthur Smith is here. He says Cordarrelle Patterson is here but will not participate in mandatory minicamp and that was a team decision. He said they’re trying to be smart ahead of the season and maximize CP’s use. #Falcons pic.twitter.com/Z6Bwqxw9zW
— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) June 14, 2022
Reporters weren’t made aware of any injury, so this indicates a personalized offseason for Patterson, who is 31-years-old and entering his 10th season. This is very commonplace in today’s NFL. Instead of forcing veterans to participate in every offseason activity, teams elect to have their older players undergo individual training to prolong the players’ bodies.
Patterson is coming off a season where he recorded the best numbers of his career, setting career highs in receiving, rushing, and total touchdowns — 618 rushing yards (4.0 YPC), six rushing touchdowns, 548 receiving yards (10.5 YPR) and five receiving touchdowns. However, that also means he had the most offensive touches of his career too, which certainly takes a toll on the body.
The Falcons re-signed Patterson to a very palatable two-year deal worth $10.5 million, and I imagine they want him to be in peak form for the life of that deal. Having him bang heads during the offseason in meaningless training camp reps isn’t conducive to longevity. Nowadays, offseason training activities are more for younger players who are learning how to be a professional. This is a wise decision by the organization.
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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
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