Atlanta Falcons: What can we expect from Sean Weatherspoon?

Can the Atlanta Falcons really expect Sean Weatherspoon to stay healthy in 2016?

When the Atlanta Falcons drafted Sean Weatherspoon in 2010, he was supposed to be their saving grace on defense.

The Falcons’ defense was not very good and was in dire need of a fast, physical linebacker. Weatherspoon fit that bill to a tee, but he was never able to remain healthy while in Atlanta. Weatherspoon’s time with the Falcons ended after the 2014 season after not playing a game in over a year and a half.

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Weatherspoon spent the 2015 season with the Arizona Cardinals and was injured for a good part of it. His time in Arizona was even shorter lived than expected and that allowed the Falcons to go out and bring him back to where he started his career.

So here we are six years later. Weatherspoon, now 28 is entering into the unknown with the Falcons. Nobody knows if he can ever play at a high level again. Weatherspoon had a terrific 2011 season and a solid 2012 season, but he has been injury rittled ever since

Currently there isn’t much of anyone standing in Weatherspoon’s way at weak side linebacker. Rookie De’Vondre Campbell is expected to compete with him as well as veteran Phillip Wheeler. But neither man can bring to the table what Weatherspoon can when he’s at 100 percent.

If Weatherspoon can remain healthy all season, we can expect a lot of good things out of him. Atlanta is in need of linebacker depth and that all starts with Weatherspoon. He he were to go down with yet another injury, it would leave the Falcons very shorthanded at that position.

He will also serve as a great vocal leader on what will be a very young defense. But none of that matters if he can’t show his leadership out on the field. Being a cheerleader on the sidelines only goes so far.

Next: 2016 training camp schedule

Expectations shouldn’t be set too high with Weatherspoon. We all know what he’s capable of, but fear of another injury will be in the back of all of our minds. Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen.

As a fan, what are you expecting out of him?