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Tight end Brian Vogler is headed for the Atlanta Falcons' offseason program.

(Courtesy of the Chicago Bears)

Brian Vogler hasn't played in a football game since starting at tight end for Alabama in the Crimson Tide's 42-35 loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl and CFP semifinal game on Jan. 1, 2015.

Now that he's headed to the Atlanta Falcons' offseason program after signing a reserve/future contract with the NFL team on Jan. 10, Vogler is looking forward to another opportunity.

"After I got injured, I was constantly saying I'd do anything to run down on a kickoff one more time and just light somebody up," Vogler told WLTZ-TV of Columbus, Ga. "Maybe just put the pads on, just hit somebody one more time. To know I'll get that opportunity again really makes it sort of bittersweet and just can't wait to get them on again and show the world what I can do."

Vogler entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Chicago Bears in 2015. He suffered a foot injury in training camp and was released before the first preseason game. Vogler caught on with the Indianapolis' practice squad for the final week of the 2015 regular season, but the Colts didn't bring him back for 2016.

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With the Falcons, Vogler joins a team that has two of its top three tight ends eligible to become free agents on March 9. Levin Toilolo, who played 55 percent of Atlanta's offensive snaps and caught 13 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, and Jacob Tamme, who played 32 percent of the snaps and caught 22 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns, played out their contracts in 2016.

The top tight end currently under contract with the Falcons for 2017 is Austin Hooper, who played 39 percent of the offensive snaps and caught 19 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns in 2016.

Four of the Falcons' top 11 special-teams players also will be free agents or are no longer with the team.

Only players who aren't on NFL active rosters can sign reserve/future contracts. NFL teams began signing players to reserve/future contracts the day after the 2016 regular season ended on Jan. 1.

Vogler was one of 18 players from Alabama high schools and colleges who signed reserve/future contracts this year. The others include: