From the moment he heard the play call, Jason Snelling ...

From the moment he heard the play call, Jason Snelling liked his chances.

“Things run through your mind,” said Snelling, the Falcons reserve running back. “Make sure you catch the ball first. You’ve got to protect the ball and keep good ball security because I knew there would be a hit afterwards. And after that, playmakers have got to make plays.”

Catch the ball, protect the ball, make a play. Check, check, check.

Snelling, in his third year out of Virginia, has primarily has made his living on special teams — he led the team in special teams tackles last season. Sunday, he got his chance for significant action with the offense when running back Jerious Norwood left the game with a head injury in the first quarter. Snelling caught the first touchdown pass of his career, made the longest run of the Falcons season and did his part to keep the offense in gear.

Norwood was injured in the first quarter on a Ryan interception. He did not return to the game and was not in uniform in the second half. While the team did not provide an injury report following the game, Snelling said Norwood was “fine.”