FLOWERY BRANCH -- Julio Jones tried, to no avail, to get back on the field.
The rookie wide receiver injured his right hamstring on Sunday against the Saints and did not play after the second quarter. He finished with just two catches for nine yards.
After being stretched by trainers, Jones spent much of the third quarter running and jumping along the sidelines in an effort to show he could play.
"We were going through the process with our training staff and doctors to determine if we could get him back in the ballgame," coach Mike Smith said. "I know he was doing everything in his power to show to the doctors and trainers that he was ready to go. But the determination was it was in our best interest to hold him out."
The Falcons announced Jones’ return as questionable during the game.
On Monday, Smith would not elaborate on the extent of Jones’ injury.
Jones missed two games in October with a left hamstring injury.
Penalty woes continue
The Falcons committed 10 penalties for 85 yards on Sunday, including three 15-yard infractions. The rash of calls came one week after the Falcons committed just one penalty in a victory over the Colts.
“We thought we did have it fixed in the Indianapolis game,” Smith said. “We certainly hope that that is not an anomaly. I hope that we get control of our penalties. There were 12 penalties in that ballgame, and it wasn’t just one segment of our football team. There were four on offense. There were four on defense. And there were four on special teams.
“We obviously have a lot of work to do in terms of getting that cleaned up.”
The Falcons are the 18th most penalized team in the NFL with 58 infractions this season.
Snelling’s run
The Falcons took their last lead against the Saints on Jason Snelling's 21-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Snelling broke seven tackles on the play and bulldozed his way into the end zone to put the Falcons up 13-10.
“When I caught the ball I was open and I was just determined to get into the end zone,” Snelling said. “When those guys converged on me and I came out of it, I was a little surprised. Once I saw the daylight, I was determined to score.”
Snelling’s touchdown came shortly after it was announced that the running back had a hamstring injury and his return was questionable.
“It was bothering me a little bit, but I was able to come back and play,” Snelling said. “I just need to be careful with moving forward, but I will be OK.”
Since the Falcons lost fullback Ovie Mughelli for the season with a torn MCL, Snelling has just nine carries in the past two games, including one on Sunday. Rookie Jacquizz Rodgers has 17 carries in the span.
Settling for field goals
The Falcons failed to score a touchdown in three trips in the red zone Sunday. They settled for Matt Bryant field goals on each possession inside the Saints' 20-yard line. It's a stat the team laments, especially considering the Saints entered the game last in the NFL in red-zone defense.
"We need to score some points when we get down in the red zone besides kicking field goals," center Todd McClure said. "I know that. I think everybody knows that. You are playing against a team with a high-powered offense; when you get down there, you have to score touchdowns."
The Falcons' two touchdowns came just outside the red zone on Snelling's 21-yard run and Tony Gonzalez's 20-yard reception. Bryant missed a 41-yard field goal after a drive stalled on the 23-yard line.
“Being 0-for-3 in the red zones is definitely a concern coming out of the ballgame,” Smith said. “We were not as effective and not as efficient.”
Grimes draws key penalty
The Saints were called for a holding penalty, drawn by cornerback Brent Grimes, on a fourth-quarter, field-goal attempt on Sunday. The infraction took three points off the board, caused the Saints to punt and enabled the Falcons to go on a game-tying drive that forced overtime.
“I was just trying to get around the edge,” Grimes said. “A lot of wings just put their arms out and they end up holding. … That is something that goes on a lot in the games and most of the time they don’t call it. The ref called it on that one. It was a big play for us.”
Etc.
Harry Douglas set career highs with eight catches for 133 yards. His previous highs were five catches for 96 yards, done in his rookie season of 2008. He also had five catches earlier this season against the Buccaneers. … Bryant had his string of consecutive field goals made snapped at 30 when he missed a 41-yarder.
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