SE Atlanta News

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The day after Grady Jarrett's surgery to repair a torn ACL, the Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle began his rehabilitation process with a barometer test. Perched on the edge of an examination table, he attempted to raise his injured right leg.

"It felt like my leg was about to fall off just sitting there," Jarrett said Tuesday after the Falcons' mandatory minicamp. "I couldn't believe that, with all my might, I couldn't pick my leg up. The week before, I was starting a game to play the Titans."

Jarrett tore his ACL on the second play of the Falcons' Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans on October 29. Two days later, former Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith announced Jarrett was placed on season-ending injured reserve. He underwent surgery within a week and has been rehabbing ever since.

"It's like you just got to take it and be patient," Jarrett stated. "You're almost back crawling until you can walk, until you can jog, until you can sprint." Reflecting on his experience as a professional athlete learning how to walk functionally again for the first time was both challenging and eye-opening for him.

In his first eight years with the Falcons, Jarrett appeared in 135 out of a possible 138 games, starting 120. His ninth season ended prematurely at eight games due to injury.

"I'm proud of myself," Jarrett said. "Because through this whole thing, I didn't allow myself to sulk or fall into depression. I knew I had work to do."

While absent from practices during the offseason program – including minicamps and organized team activities – Jarrett worked behind the scenes with trainers.

The expected recovery timeline for his ACL injury is nine months; from November to July. "I made the days count; I didn't count the days," he said.

Jarrett aims to be fully ready for training camp but acknowledges that his ramp-up efforts may differ from those of his teammates.

Reflecting on his rehab journey, Jarrett expressed gratitude for those who supported him – from his wife taking care of their son to people handling the Grady Gives Foundation – and gained new insights into football by analyzing it as both player and fan.

"I might have just needed that in that moment," he concluded. "After playing the game for so long at a time, you can sometimes feel like you've got things figured out. It's a reminder that nobody is invincible."