ON THE FALCONS BEAT
ON THE FALCONS BEAT

Deion Jones to miss exhibition game against Chiefs tonight

Matt Bryant, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman will be held out also
August 7, 2018 Flowery Branch: Atlanta Falcons linebackers Duke Riley (left) and Deion Jones watch from the sidelines between defensive series at NFL football training camp practice on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, in Flowery Branch. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

August 7, 2018 Flowery Branch: Atlanta Falcons linebackers Duke Riley (left) and Deion Jones watch from the sidelines between defensive series at NFL football training camp practice on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, in Flowery Branch. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By
Aug 17, 2018

Falcons Pro Bowl middle linebacker Deion Jones suffered a mild strain on Thursday and will not play in the exhibtion game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday, according to the team.

Also, kicker Matt Bryant, who has an undisclosed injury, will not play.

Wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman will be held out of the game in a coaching decision. Neither player has an injury and both were held out of the exhibition opener against the Jets on Aug. 10.

With Freeman out and Tevin Coleman a known commodity, the Falcons are going to take a long look at fourth-round pick Ito Smith. They would like to see him get 8 to 10 carries and run the ball with some authority in their outside zone scheme.

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

Follow D. Orlando Ledbetter on facebookFollow D. Orlando Ledbetter on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris (left) and New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore shake hands after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in New Orleans. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Credit: AP

5 things we learned from the Falcons’ win over the Saints

The Falcons stopped the bleeding from a five-game losing streak Sunday with their 24-10 victory over the rebuilding Saints.

Falcons throttle Saints 24-10 to snap five-game losing streak

The Falcons snapped a five-game losing streak with a resounding 24-10 road victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins isn’t finished after all

The Latest

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris (left) and New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore shake hands after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in New Orleans. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Credit: AP

5 things we learned from the Falcons’ win over the Saints

Falcons wrap: Here’s all the coverage from the Week 12 win over the Saints

What Kirk Cousins’ had to say after the Falcons’ 24-10 win over the Saints

Featured

Cooling towers for Units 4 and 3 are seen at Plant Vogtle, operated by Georgia Power Co., in east Georgia's Burke County near Waynesboro, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Analysts warn Georgia Power bills will rise if PSC approves data center buildout

Analysts are warning Georgia Power's residential customers could see monthly bills jump $20 or more if state regulators approve the company's planned data center expansion.

GHSA suspends 39 Gainesville football players for brawl that ended playoff game

The Gainesville-Brunswick game was discontinued with 1:57 left in the third quarter when the fight began. Gainesville was leading 42-0.

Here’s when metro Atlanta interstates will be busiest this holiday week

Experts say more than 2 million Peach State residents will travel by car for Thanksgiving.