Joe Hawley says knee is sore, but won't let it slow him down

Aug 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Joe Hawley (61) reacts with the fans on the field during training camp at the Flowery Branch Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Hawley has been rolling through the comeback trail after dealing with a surgically repaired right knee. While his knee isn't feeling completely normal just yet, Vaughn McClure of ESPN reports that the "sore" knee of Hawley won't slow down the starting center this season.

"Yes, it's sore," Hawley told ESPN. "It hurts every day coming out. It's structurally stable; strong. It's more of the fatigue I get in the atrophy I had in trying to build the muscle up. So, just trying to get in the weight room and continue to strengthen it. I'm doing like leg press and different rehab stuff. Just keeping the muscle strong is the important thing."

"The knee is stable itself. It's just kind of nicks and pains here and there. It's something I'm going to have to deal with the whole year, probably."

Hawley has admitted before that his knee is unlikely to be 100 percent this season, but he seems fully prepared to battle through it to help the team however he can.

(h/t ESPN)