FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) - The last time Brian Finneran caught a pass in a real game for the Atlanta Falcons, Jim Mora was the coach
and Michael Vick was the quarterback. Devastating knee injuries forced Finneran to miss the last two seasons. But now he's back.

Finneran was overshadowed by rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's debut as he made a quiet return Saturday night in Atlanta's first preseason game. He had three catches for 33 yards.

Finneran worked in sports talk radio while continuing his second rehabilitation last year He says he'll look at a broadcasting job if his return doesn't work out.

Finneran's best year was 2002, when he started all 16 games and had 56 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns. He led the Falcons with 50 catches for 611 yards in 2005. His specialty was moving the chains with his third-down grabs.

First-year coach Mike Smith says Finneran was brought along slowly early in training camp but now has passed the test of a week of two-a-day practices.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)