FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said running back Devonta Freeman is going through the concussion protocol, and Freeman's status for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings remains in limbo.

Freeman was injured in the first quarter of his team's 24-21 loss to Indianapolis. He was hit by Colts safety Clayton Geathers following a 39-yard run. Freeman stayed in for two more plays before exiting to the locker room.

The following is a sample of the typical gameday testing a player would go through after suffering a head injury. Teams are not required to utilize all the steps involved, but this serves as a guideline.

:He was diagnosed with a concussion and he'll go back through the concussion protocol this week,'' Quinn said of Freeman. "I really don't have a lot to go on other than the fact that he's off to a good start with that. He's a competitor that we rely on for all sorts of things; run game, pass game. We've seen the player that he is. Let's not talk less or more. He's a real factor.''

Freeman's 11 touchdowns are tied for the NFL lead with Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert. Freeman also stands tied for fifth in the league with 764 rushing yards, 242 yards behind leader Adrian Peterson of Minnesota.

Freeman has to be cleared by an independent neurologist and then by team physicians to return to contact. If he is unable to go against Peterson and the Vikings, rookie Tevin Coleman would step back into a starting role with fellow rookie Terron Ward behind him. Coleman, who started the first two games of the season, had key fumble against the Colts and has lost two fumbles in his last 27 rushes.

"For sure, we've got great belief in him,'' Quinn said of Coleman. "I have all the confidence in the world in him to play, if Devonta is not ready. And then we'll kind of cross that bridge as we get to it at the end.''