"Despite re-injuring his ankle twice, Falcons running back Michael Turner will continue to try and play this season.

"He started his rehabilitation this morning," Falcons coach Mike Smith said Monday. "We want to get him back as quickly as possible because there are still two more games to play."

Turner was originally injured when Carolina's Chris Gamble tackled him in the second quarter of a game on Nov. 15 in Charlotte.

After sitting out two weeks, Turner came back against Tampa Bay on Nov. 29 and had 12 carries for 33 yards before he was hit on the ankle again. Then on Sunday on the first play of the game against the Jets, he was hit on the right ankle again by New York safety Jim Leonhard.

Smith said there was "no ill will" in Leonhard's hit.

With the Falcons eliminated from the playoffs, it was thought the team would consider resting Turner and allowing the ankle to heal."