Falcons speedy wide receiver Russell Gage is playing Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for the scout team in practice.
“He did a great job for us,” linebacker DeVondre Campbell said Thursday. “He gave us some great looks and he is really just getting us prepared.”
Gage, who mostly plays on special teams, has one catch for nine yards on the season. He’s played in 10 games and was inactive for one game.
Gage, who was drafted this year in the sixth round (194th overall) out of LSU, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds during the pre-draft process.
The Falcons are getting ready for Jackson and quarterback Joe Flacco, who returned to practice from a hip injury on Thursday.
In two starts, Jackson ran 26 times for 118 yards in a 24-21 win over the Bengals on Nov. 18. He ran 11 times for 77 yards in a 34-17 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
The Falcons’ run defense has struggled over the past three games.
“We just have to go out and do our job and not make it bigger than what it is,” Campbell said. “They’ve got a lot of different looks. As long as we play our keys and have great technique, we’ll be just fine.”
The Falcons have seen a couple of running quarterbacks this season.
“(Taysom Hill) from New Orleans and (Carolina’s) Cam (Newton),” Campbell said. “We know how to prepare for him and not make it bigger than what it is.”
The run defense could receive a boost from the return of linebacker Deion Jones, who appears set to return from a broken foot.
“The thing for Deion is that he needs to focus on being himself and not try to go out and do too much,” Campbell said.
Jones has his cleats picked out for his possible return.
“I mean, it was a tough decision for him to make,” Campbell said. “I feel like he did what was best for himself and for the team.”
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