A week after frightening injury, Falcons rookie Daniels comes up big in win over 49ers

ATLANTA (AP) — A week ago, Atlanta Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels was carted off the field on a stretcher, his body strapped to a backboard, his head engulfed by an ominous-looking brace. No one was thinking about when he might return. The immediate concern was whether he sustained any career-threatening or even life-altering damage.Which made his performance Sunday even more remarkable.In a game the Falcons desperately needed to win, Daniels came through with a team-high 11 tackles, made a crucial interception in the fourth quarter and, for good measure, recovered a fumble that finished off a 29-20 win over the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers.“I'm really proud of that kid,” said coach Kevin Stefanski, who rewarded the 23-year-old linebacker with a game ball.Once he left the hospital and was cleared physically, Daniels faced the inevitable mental challenge of getting back on the field without any lingering doubts or fears holding him back. He knew that his facemask-on-knee colli