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.

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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.

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