FITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM
Falcons working to ensure Julio is healthy for season
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — There will be no leaping catches along the sideline, no fade routes in the end zone, no patterns across the middle of the defense for Julio Jones this preseason.
Not with another team on the field trying to stop him, that is.
Fans who hope to see Jones in action at the Atlanta Falcons’ final two exhibitions, including Saturday’s road matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, better arrive early for pregame warmups. After that, the wide receiver will be a sideline observer.
Jones feels great. Falcons coach Dan Quinn is simply trying to make sure that doesn’t change before the regular season.
Barring a change of plans, Jones also will be held out of Atlanta’s final preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Jones said he supports Quinn’s plan, with the three-time All-Pro confident he will be prepared for the real thing despite having no game-speed preparation in the preseason.
Atlanta will kick off the NFL’s regular season on Thursday, Sept. 6 in Philadelphia by taking on the reigning Super Bowl champions. It’s also a rematch of the Falcons’ playoff loss last season, with the Eagles winning that divisional round meeting 15-10 in Philadelphia.
“I’m going to be ready to go,” Jones said Wednesday. “I’m getting plenty of reps and things like that in practice. I’m going against some great guys.”
It’s not unusual for a key starter to have limited exposure in the preseason, but it was notable when Quinn said Tuesday he plans
to hold out Jones the full preseason. Jones’ value to the team, though, makes Quinn’s strategy easy to understand.
A two-time All-Pro firstteam selection and five-time Pro Bowler with seven NFL seasons behind him, Jones is one of only two players in league history to have at least 80 catches and 1,400 receiving yards in four straight seasons. He can break that tie with former Indianapolis Colts star Marvin Harrison this season.
Despite having to play through a series of nagging injuries, Jones had 88 catches for 1,444 yards and three touchdowns last season.
The 29-year-old former University of Alabama standout reported on time for the start of training camp last month after missing the mandatory minicamp. While his effort to have his fiveyear, $71.5 million contract reworked was the big story, he privately told Quinn he always planned to report for training camp and his holdout from minicamp “was just me getting healthy.”
He had minor surgery on his left foot after the 2016 season, then had two ankle injuries as well as back, ribs, thumb and knee injuries last season.
A healthy Jones has been important for Atlanta’s offense and defense in training camp. Trying to cover the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is ideal practice for the Falcons’ defensive backs.
“When you see him really at his best heading into this training camp, healthier and more explosive based on the training he did in the offseason, it’s been good not just for the team but for the guys he’s going to compete against,” Quinn said Wednesday. “… Those are matchups that you really need.”
Quinn also is holding running back Devonta Freeman out of all preseason action. Freeman had two concussions last year, including one in the preseason, and battled a minor knee injury late in the regular season.
“Now since it’s no contact for me, I’m just trying to work on other things in my game so I can get better,” Freeman said Wednesday, “and then when the game comes around, I’ll be ready.”
Freeman grinned when asked about having Jones practicing at full speed, free from last year’s injuries.
“You know, Julio is Julio,” he said. “Julio is one of those guys who is like a freak of nature. His talent, I feel like the sky is the limit for him. He can do a lot of things great. As big as he is, he can move. It’s like anything you want from a wide receiver, Julio Jones, I feel, has got everything you need.”