FALCONS’ JONES WILL MISS GAME AGAINST CHARGERS
Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones will miss his fourth game of the season because of a lingering hamstring injury.
The team ruled out Jones for Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Chargers after he was held out of practice all week.
Two other starters — safety Riccardo Allen (concussion) and offensive guard James Carpenter (groin) — also will sit.
After missing a Week 12 victory over the Raiders because of his hamstring issue, Jones returned to the field for last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. He made six receptions for 94 yards. The hamstring injury also forced Jones to sit out against the Chicago Bears in Week 3 and the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. The Falcons (4-8) lost both games.
Even if Jones is able to play the remainder of the regular season, this will be his second-fewest games of his 10-year career. He played five games in 2013 before going down with a season-ending foot injury.
Jones ranks second on the Falcons this season behind Calvin Ridley with 51 receptions for 771 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Todd Gurley, who has been slowed by a chronic knee problem, was cleared to play against the Chargers. The only other player on the injury report was starting right tackle Kaleb McGary, listed as questionable due to a personal matter.
Notable
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, a trained physician who opted out of this season in order to help COVID-19 patients, was chosen as the winner of the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year.
Duvernay-Tardif and Alphonso Davies, a left back for Bayern Munich, each received 18 votes from a panel of judges.
The award has been presented by the Toronto Star since 1938. It is only the third time two athletes tied for it.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, right tackle Trent Brown and safety Johnathan Abram are questionable for this week’s key showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers placed veteran Vince Williams on the reserve/ COVID-19 list, meaning he won’t be available when the Steelers (11-1) visit surging Buffalo (9-3) on Sunday night.
Pittsburgh did receive a bit of good news on Friday when center Maurkice Pouncey was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Pouncey went on the list hours before a victory over Baltimore on Dec. 2 and also sat out a loss to Washington on Monday.
The Dallas Cowboys placed Cameron Er ving on injured reserve with a sprained knee Friday, ending the tackle’s season because it’s his second stint on IR.
• New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is listed as questionable for the game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Jones was a full participant in practice on Friday for the first time since his hamstring injury against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 29.
• The Houston Texans have placed running back David Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The Tennessee Titans will be without starting cornerbacks Breon Borders and Adoree Jackson against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.