The workload doesn't figure to lessen against Miami; Kamara missed the final three quarters last Sunday and didn't practice Wednesday.
"I think the coaching staff has done a phenomenal job with keeping me in the loop, keeping me in practice, still getting reps," Neal said. "So I felt really comfortable being out there. At the end of the day, you never know — especially with my position. The first guy can go out just like that, so I have to be prepared. I have to watch film the same way, like I'm going to be out there taking every rep. That's my mentality when it comes to this.
"It's just more opportunity for me to keep showing what I can do. More opportunity to show that I can be an all-around back, that I can play in this league and be efficient on the ground, catching the ball, pass blocking, do it all."
In limited action this season — 17 carries for 61 yards, 12 catches for 64 yards in seven games — the 5-foot-11, 213-pound rookie from Kansas has shown flashes in all those areas.
There has been an element of violence to his style, noticeable to teammates.
"I was really proud of Devin and what he was able to do," quarterback [Tyler Shough](/team/players-roster/tyler-shough/) said after the Falcons game. "He was laying the boom quite a few times. He was doing his job really well."
There was, at least, a bit of expectation for that when Neal was drafted after he ran for 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns on 760 carries, and caught 77 passes for 711 yards and four touchdowns, in 49 games at Kansas.
"I played him for two years (in college), my freshman and sophomore year, so I already know what Devin can provide to our team," said rookie left tackle [Kelvin Banks Jr.](/team/players-roster/kelvin-banks-jr/), whose Texas teams won both of those games. "It wasn't anything that I haven't seen before. His explosiveness, his ability to find the hole and kind of hit it any moment he wants to. He's a great player, he's a great back. He knows the game of football very well, like the back of his hand."