FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, who missed the last game with a hamstring injury, is one of a handful of players not expected to be limited in Sunday night's matchup with the New England Patriots.

Sanu returned to practice this week and was close to returning to game action last week. He was able to get added rest during the bye in Week 5. And his presence against the Patriots should give the Falcons a much-needed offensive boost after they failed to score after halftime of last week's 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

"It's the size; the catching radius," Quinn said of what Sanu brings back to the lineup. "He has really aggressive hands. So when it's contested balls -- which a lot of time in man-to-man that happens against tight coverage, and (the Patriots) have the ability to play that -- you have to be really aggressive in your catch. And having a bigger catch radius certainly helps in that way.

"Between him and Julio (Jones), they're really aggressive in going after it with the size they have."

Sanu has 16 receptions, third on the team behind Jones (25) and tight end Austin Hooper (17). Sanu has been targeted 24 times and has 10 first downs with one drop.

On third down, Sanu has four receptions for 29 yards on eight targets with three first downs. And in the red zone, he has two receptions for 7 yards on three targets with a touchdown and a drop.

The Falcons should be able to take advantage of the Patriots' league-worst pass defense that allows 324.8 passing yards per game. Not to mention New England is banged up in the secondary.