For the first time in a while, Jonathan Massaquoi felt like he was back to normal.

The pain in his right foot no longer throbbed. He could plant without pain. His get-off was natural again.

In the week of practice leading into Monday night’s Green Bay game, Massaquoi honestly believed he had his groove back. The Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher was prepared to make a significant impact against the Packers.

So why did Massaquoi play just seven snaps?

"Those questions, I couldn’t even tell you," he said. "I felt like last year, I performed well. We damn near ran the same defense. I don’t know. I guess (Kroy) Biermann was the choice to go into the Green Bay game and execute the rest of the game with him. And he had a great game, too. He had sack. He had a couple tackles. I think he set the edge well.

"Should I have gotten more snaps? Absolutely. Was that my call? No. Did we almost still win the game? Yes. So regardless of it’s me or Biermann or whoever else, the coaches are going to make the right decision. That’s all I can do as a player right now is continue to be supportive, keep high spirits, and keep working."

Massaquoi wants to be viewed as the consummate team player, but the prideful side of him burns about not being a more integral part of the defense. Remember, much of the talk leading into the season focused on how he would inject life into a listless pass rush. He was the one expected to have a breakout season on a team void of an elite pass-rusher.

Massaquoi enters Sunday’s game against the Steelers with two sacks and six quarterback hits. He has started just two of 12 games, with Biermann a fixture in the starting lineup and Malliciah Goodman added to help stop the run.

Massaquoi lobbied for more snaps earlier in the season and scoffed at anyone who questioned his ability to stop the run. His feelings about increased playing time haven’t changed as the Falcons approach their final three regular-season games.

"I don’t think it was a lot of pressure on me coming into this season," Massaquoi said. "I had the same expectations of myself. But all the games that I get over 40 snaps, I make sacks and tackles. Throughout the course of this season, I haven’t reached 40 snaps (consistently); just in some games -- Chicago (43 snaps), Ravens (51). Other than that, I really haven’t been given the pass-rush opportunities to go out there and execute my talents.

"As you see and I see and I know, if I get 40 snaps and I get into a groove and rhythm, I’m able to change the dynamics of the game."

Massaquoi was asked how he could make his point to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan without causing a rift. When Massaquoi first voiced his displeasure about playing time, Nolan admitted he made a minor mistake against Detroit and should have played Massaquoi 10 more snaps than he did. Massaquoi played 37 snaps in London against the Lions, the same game he initially suffered his foot injury.

"I mean, Coach Nolan has been in the game a long time: Whatever plan he has, regardless of if it's right or wrong, this is who I’m following through the season, from a defensive standpoint," Massaquoi said. "Do I think sometimes what I can do may get overlooked? That’s a possibility. Do I think I can contribute more? Yes. Is that my decision? No. Because it’s not my decision, all I can do is continue to be the best team player as possible and continue to support the 11 players that are out there on defense."

Massaquoi averaged 11.2 snaps per game the past five contests, with his most extensive action being 23 snaps against the Browns. He has not recorded a sack since Week 6 against the Bears, but Massaquoi would attribute his lack of production to the foot injury.

"It took damn near the third quarter of the season for me to recover back," he said. "I feel as though I’m getting off better, I’m more active. I’ve just got to get back in the rotation."

Maybe he’ll see more opportunities Sunday against two-time Super Bowl champ Ben Roethlisberger, a big quarterback who is strong enough to fight off pressure.

"Everybody said that about (Joe) Flacco and the Ravens, them being in the Super Bowl and all that, and I tore their ass up," Massaquoi said. "Like I said, if I get significant amount of snaps -- 40 or whatever -- I can definitely change the dynamics of the game and make an offense want to think more. I would like to be back a part of that and get my mojo going.

"Once you get angry man, you kind of go into a funk. Your mojo gets down. People treat you a little differently. The aura is a little bit different. It takes a strong-minded person to be able to be resilient and bounce back from that."