Inside linebacker Akeem Dent returned to practice on Monday after missing time in training camp with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Bill O'Brien is looking forward to seeing what Dent can do on defense and special teams.
"He's an experienced player," O'Brien said on Monday. "Good special teams player, good speed, good team guy, very smart player. A guy from what I've seen so far, he hasn't been out there every day because he is dealing with an injury issue, which isn't serious, but he just got back out there today; but I believe he is an instinctive player from what I saw on film in Atlanta and looking forward to watching him play here as we move forward."
With Brian Cushing still on the Active/PUP list, the fourth-year veteran Dent brings experience to a relatively young group of inside linebackers. During his three seasons as a Falcon, Dent played in 47 regular season games with 20 starts and three postseason games with two starts. He amassed a career total of 108 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed, four quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
Dent, acquired in a trade with Atlanta for quarterback T.J. Yates, will get a chance to face his former team this week. The Falcons and the Texans will hold joint practices Wednesday and Thursday before meeting for their second game of the preseason on Saturday, August 16 at NRG Stadium (7 p.m. on KTRK ABC-13 and SportsRadio 610).
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