Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones (foot) and starting right tackle Ty Sambrailo (knee) returned to practice in “full” capacity Thursday after limited roles a day earlier, and the rest of the injury report was unchanged.
Wide receiver Julio Jones (hip, ribs), running back Tevin Coleman (groin) and left guard Wes Schweitzer (back) missed their second consecutive practice ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale between the Falcons (6-9) and Buccaneers (5-10).
Jones said early in the afternoon, before practice, “I’m good” when asked if he’d play against Tampa Bay, and coach Dan Quinn had announced Monday that he and Coleman weren’t likely to practice. The same was true of Jones last week, and he played at Carolina.
Coleman worked on the side early during Thursday’s practice.
“I don’t know yet (about Schweitzer), and that’s the honest answer,” Quinn said. “He’s dealing with a back issue, and we’ll hold him again today and then see where we sit tomorrow. ... Today, he’s not ready to practice at the speed and level that we go.”
Should Schweitzer miss the game after starting 13 consecutive, Quinn suggested that Ben Garland was the prime candidate to plug in at left guard, and that Matt Gono, a rookie undrafted out of tiny Wesley who’s been on the 53-man roster all season without being active for a game, might be up for the first time.
“Yep, he’s been working inside this week at guard as well. We’re waiting to see where we’re at Wes first before we put the cart before the horse,” Quinn said. “We won’t do it just to do it.”
The Bucs are pretty beat up.
Wide receiver DeSean Jackson (Achilles), defensive end Carl Nassib (shoulder) and linebacker Devante Bond (illness) did not practice, and defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul (knee/shoulder) and William Gholston (back), defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (shoulder) and tackle Demar Dotson (knee) were limited.
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