Atlanta Falcons defensive end Dwight Freeney was dealing with a back injury that forced him to miss two consecutive preseason games. However, he's ready to return to the field.

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Freeney, 36, signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in August to help bolster a pass rush that managed a league-worst 19 sacks last season. In 11 games with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, Freeney recorded eight sacks and three forced fumbles. It was the first time since 2011 that he posted eight or more sacks.

For his career, Freeney has recorded 119.5 sacks.

While Adrian Clayborn and Derrick Shelby are the presumed starters at defensive end, Freeney's presence gives the team solid depth at the position and will allow Atlanta to shuffle him onto the field on obvious passing downs.

Freeney has already established himself as a veteran leader on the team's defense and has taken outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. under his wing.

"He said, 'It's all about standing out and being a dominant player,' and obviously he's been that," Beasley told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com about the advice Freeney has been relaying to him. "We talk on the practice field and in the locker room. We talk everywhere. ... It's just about making folks notice me and standing out."

For the Falcons, that type of leadership and mentorship is as important as the impact the veteran is able to make on the field this year.