Atlanta Falcons DC Cleared for Work Following Frightening Sunday Injury

The Atlanta Falcons have received some good news regarding one of their veteran coaches. After being stretchered off the field following a collision during warmups for the team's Week 15 matchup with the New Orleans Saints, defensive coordinator Dean Pees has been cleared for work and travel and will coach this week when the Falcons visit the Baltimore Ravens.

Falcons DC Dean Pees said he's been cleared to both coach and travel this week after the on-field collision in New Orleans last week.

So he'll be in Baltimore.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) December 21, 2022

Pees, 73, was run into by a player returning a punt an hour or so before kickoff. He had his neck braced and was loaded onto a backboard before being stretchered off the field.

Pees has served as the Falcons' DC since 2021. He has bounced all around the league as a coordinator, also working for the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2019, the Baltimore Ravens from 2012 to 2017, and the New England Patriots from 2006 to 2009. He briefly retired in 2017 and 2019 before being lured back to work.

Pees' quick return is great news considering his age and the severity of the initial reports following his injury. At 5-9, the Falcons actually remain in the hunt for a playoff spot in the putrid NFC South; they'll need the 6-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to pick up another loss in the next two weeks before they face off in the regular season finale.