Jackson, who has been dealing with a left hamstring injury, has started light workouts with the Falcons' trainers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Jackson suffered his hamstring injury back on July 28, and the Falcons are working him back slowly, with his activities on Monday not involving any sort of sprinting. Meanwhile, with regard to the 31-year-old back, ESPN.com notes that coach Mike Smith has maintained that he expects Jackson to be fully healthy in advance of the Falcons' Sept. 7 season opener. Until then, Jacquizz Rodgers, Antone Smith and Devonta Freeman will compete for backup slotting on the team's running back depth chart.

Steven Jackson is out indefinitely with a left hamstring injury, but is expected to be ready for Week 1.

Speaking after Tuesday's practice, coach Mike Smith claimed he didn't believe the injury was serious, but was vague on Jackson's timeline, only saying he's expected to be ready for Week 1. It's not the same hamstring that cost S-Jax four games in 2013, but it's up for debate whether that's good or bad news. No matter how serious, it's a big blow for a player who had reportedly been looking "rejuvenated." It's a reminder that Jackson's advancing age (31) and recent health woes make him a dicey RB2 in fantasy leagues. Rookie Devonta Freeman is worth a late-round flier in all formats.

Steven Jackson reportedly "looks rejuvenated" early in camp.

ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure believes Steven Jackson "might have a battle on his hands" if Davonta Freeman looks as good in pads as he did in shorts.

Jackson will be the Week 1 starter, but he's not guaranteed a workhorse role. The 31-year-old (in July) failed to clear 4.0 yards per carry in 9-of-12 appearances last season, looking dangerously close to his career cliff. Freeman, an excellent pass protector with three-down tools, is going to be pushing for very significant snaps right away. We're not going to be investing in Jackson as a RB2.

Coach Mike Smith threw support behind Steven Jackson, even though he turns 31 in July.

"Unfortunately, Steven was injured last year and we didn't really get a chance to see what he was capable of doing until the last four or five games," Smith said. Jackson tore his hamstring in Week 2. Additionally, he was running behind one of the worst lines. The Falcons added mauling RG Jon Asamoah and will get LT Sam Baker (knee) back but still need a right tackle. Jackson averaged just 3.5 YPC in 2013. Atlanta is expected to draft a running back.

Coach Mike Smith hinted at the Combine that he expects the Falcons to retain Steven Jackson for 2014.

Smith essentially gave S-Jax a pass for his 2013 hamstring tear, saying the Falcons "didn't get a chance to really see what Steven Jackson was capable of doing until the end of the season," and insisting an improved rushing attack "starts with a winning line." Jackson is not due a prohibitive offseason roster bonus, so the Falcons could conceivably roster him as long as they please and cut him after the draft or even right before Week 1. Doing so would only save $1.83 million in cap room, however. We tentatively expect S-Jax to return as the Falcons' 2014 starter.

Steven Jackson rushed 16 times for 53 yards and one touchdown in Monday night's Week 16 loss to the 49ers.

Considering the defense he was going up against and the horrid offensive line Jackson has blocking for him, it was a very solid effort. Jackson continues to run hard and manages to find yards, even though the holes he gets are minuscule. He caught two passes out of the backfield for minus-four yards and was blown up twice on swing passes. One of those resulted in a questionable penalty on Donte Whitner that actually set up Jackson's two-yard touchdown. Jackson will wrap up his season next week against a stout Panthers defense.

Coach Mike Smith and OC Dirk Koetter both threw support behind Steven Jackson during the past week as a running back who still has juice left in the tank.

It's not particularly relevant for the final two games of Atlanta's lost season, but an indication that S-Jax stands a decent chance at returning as the Falcons' 2014 feature back. "There have been circumstances that affected (Jackson), but we're starting to see him play like we've been accustomed to," said Koetter. "He's just about over the (hamstring) and it shows." Smith said he has "no doubt" S-Jax can remain a productive back. Jackson is only owed $3 million in 2014. He still holds some Dynasty/keeper league RB2 appeal.

Steven Jackson rushed 15 times for 38 yards and two touchdowns in Atlanta's Week 15, 27-26 win over the Redskins.

Steven Jackson rushed 15 times for 71 yards and caught a nine-yard pass in the Falcons' Week 14 loss to the Packers.

Although the fantasy numbers didn't cooperate this time, S-Jax continues to improve physically on a weekly basis. He looked like a poor man's version of Eddie Lacy in this one, ripping off chain-moving runs with power and finishing them off with authority. Jackson will be a legit RB2 option when Atlanta squares off with Washington's weak defense in Week 15.

Steven Jackson rushed 23 times for 84 yards with two touchdowns in Sunday's Week 13 win over the Bills.

Jackson tore through a hole in the middle for a 27-yard score in the first quarter, showing more north-south speed than we've seen all year. He also got the call on a one-yard plunge after Harry Douglas drew a pass interference call in the end zone late. But in between, S-Jax continues to struggle with lateral movement and short-area quicks. He's now averaging just 3.49 YPC on the season. Jackson will be a touchdown dependent RB2/flex against the Packers in Week 14.

Steven Jackson rushed 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown in Atlanta's Week 12 loss to the Saints, adding three catches for an additional 16 yards.

S-Jax galloped all over the Saints on Atlanta's opening drive, rushing four times for 25 yards before capping things off with a diving one-yard score over a mass of humanity at the goal-line. All night, Jackson had little trouble penetrating the first line of defense, but had issues escaping with extra yardage. Nevertheless, he operated as Atlanta's clear lead back, out-touching Jacquizz Rodgers, Jason Snelling and Antone Smith 19-8. Jackson's tank isn't quite on E, but he's a poor fit for a Falcons offense that's lost its big-play ability without Julio Jones. He's an RB3 who will struggle to produce fantasy points in weeks where he doesn't score.

Steven Jackson was held to 41 yards on 11 carries and caught two passes for 24 yards in the Falcons' Week 11 loss to Tampa Bay.

Jackson still runs hard, but his offensive line doesn't open holes and he lacks lateral agility to create his own running room on the rare occasions he gets even the slightest crease. The Falcons are going to cut him in the offseason. Consider S-Jax a low-end flex option when Atlanta faces New Orleans on Thursday Night Football in Week 12.

Steven Jackson (toe) is listed as probable for Week 11.

S-Jax will be a flex option against Tampa Bay's top-five run defense.

Steven Jackson (toe) was upgraded to "full" in Thursday's practice.

S-Jax will be ready to roll against the Bucs, but can't be trusted as more than a FLEX option. Jackson is averaging just 3.21 yards through his first 47 carries.

Steven Jackson (toe) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

Jackson isn't in any danger of missing Week 11. Despite averaging just 2.24 yards per carry in five games this season, OC Dirk Koetter said he plans to increase Jackson's workload going forward. He's just a RB3/FLEX option against the Bucs' No. 5 run defense.

OC Dirk Koetter said he wants to increase Steven Jackson's workload going forward, not decrease it.

The plodding, 30-year-old Jackson has been outplayed by Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling. That's led to suggestions that the Falcons should turn their backfield into a full-blown committee, but Koetter doesn't see it that way. "My opinion is Steven Jackson is a workhorse running back and we haven't been able to work him," he said. "I mean, I think Steven is one of those guys that gets better the more he touches it." Koetter went on to say that carries for Rodgers and Snelling will come when S-Jax taps out. It's an extremely low-upside situation for fantasy owners heading into Sunday's game against the Bucs' No. 5 run defense.

Steven Jackson rushed nine times for 11 yards and caught three passes for nine yards in Sunday's Week 10 loss to the Seahawks.

Running stiff and slow with no lateral ability, Jackson just slammed into the Seahawks front repeatedly. It was almost hard to watch. In three games since returning from his hamstring pull, Jackson has rushed 33 times for 74 yards (2.24 YPC) with no touchdowns. The schedule finally softens up as he'll get the Bucs next week, but we wouldn't trust this S-Jax with this offensive line as anything more than a flex.

Steven Jackson rushed 13 times for 57 yards in Atlanta's Week 9 loss to the Panthers, adding three catches for 19 yards.

Jackson looked much better than he did in Week 8, but was still noticeably lacking any real semblance of burst. Most of his yardage came as the result of good blocking, or his still prodigious power. It was a Michael Turner-ian performance, albeit one without a score. That being said, it was still one of the Falcons' better rushing performances of the season, while Jackson appears aware of his limitations. He saw the hole, and hit it hard. He'll likely be a trustworthy RB3 going forward, but has a rough Week 10 matchup in the Seahawks.

Steven Jackson is not listed on the Week 9 injury report.

It suggests Jackson was running at 100 percent during his 11-carry, six-yard Week 8 performance at Arizona. And that's scary. Jackson, now 30 years old, ran extremely stiff and slow while making backup Jacquizz Rodgers look like Usain Bolt. He'll barely be a top-25 play this week against an excellent Panthers front seven.