FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl center Alex Mack could "barely walk" following the NFC Championship Game after suffering a hairline fracture in his left fibula, but Mack said Tuesday he finally started to feel better two weeks after his team’s Super Bowl LI loss to New England.
Mack addressed the media for the first time since the Super Bowl. He continues to recover from the injury, which did not require surgery although Mack spent a significant time getting treatment.
"That’s where the short offseason kind of goes in … less time to really heal,’’ Mack said. "You play that long, you’re going to be a little beat up. But we’re being smart with it. We’re taking care of it. And that’s really what [offseason workouts] are for. You can get your body right, start getting prepared for the next season [and] mentally get back and learn the offense, focus on the little details.’’
Mack showed his toughness in the Super Bowl, playing all 49 offensive snaps in the Falcons’ 34-28 overtime loss to the Patriots.
"Oh, it hurt,’’ Mack said. "But I was so glad to be able to be out there. To play at that stage has been a lifelong goal of mine. And to have that be actualized was amazing. It was a tough experience, really tough loss. But those are life lessons. That’s what you build to who you are and where you’re going from there.’’
Then after the Super Bowl, Mack got some much-needed rest. He initially suffered the injury in the third quarter against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game.
"After the Packers game was probably the most it hurt, right after I broke it,’’ Mack said. "I could barely walk. And leaving the Super Bowl, it hurt a lot. But I was really able to, two weeks later, really move around pretty comfortably.’’
Mack talked about not having surgery.
"Broken fibula, there’s a lot of stuff around it that kind of keeps it in place,’’ Mack said. "It was a non-displaced fracture. It was just one of those things that’s going to heal better and faster if you just kind of leave it alone.’’
The Falcons are being cautious with a handful of players this offseason, including All-Pro Julio Jones (foot surgery), Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant (pectoral surgery) and Mack. First-round draft pick Takkarist McKinley, the pass-rusher from UCLA, won’t be ready immediately while still recovering from March shoulder surgery. Falcons coach Dan Quinn expects McKinley, along with the others, to be ready to go by training camp.
Defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn (biceps) and Derrick Shelby (Achilles) are returning from season-ending injuries.
The Falcons begin organized team activities May 30. Mandatory minicamp is June 13-15.