Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, who is recovering from foot surgery, is off his crutches.
Wide receiver Harry Douglas has been in contact with Jones, who hasn’t spoken to the media since his injury and surgery in October. He was placed in injured reserve on Oct. 10.
“He’s doing good,” Douglas said. “I talked to him the other day. I saw him (Wednesday), too. He’s doing (well).”
Falcons coach Mike Smith gave an injury update on several players during his radio segment on the team’s flagship station 790TheZone on Friday. He appeared on “The Locker Room” show with former Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler and JP Peterson.
“Julio is continuing with his rehabilitation,” Smith said. “He’s off the crutches. It was a non-weight-bearing (injury). That’s usually the process that you go through when you have a leg injury.”
Jones has been in the building for meetings and doesn’t seem to have a sense of isolation.
“He’s handling it pretty good, but Julio is a mature guy,” Douglas said. “Things like that don’t bother Julio.”
Douglas, who’s 94 yards shy of 1,000 yards receiving, gives Jones credit for his strong season.
“After every game I talk to him, and he tells me what he’s seeing,” Douglas said. “It’s always good. He lets you know what he sees. He’s been very helpful.”
Linebacker/defensive end Kroy Biermann is recovering from Achilles surgery. He went down in the second game of the season on Sept. 15. He was placed on injured reserve of Sept. 16.
“Kroy Biermann is probably ahead of anybody because his injury was earlier in the season,” Smith said. “Kroy is continuing with his rehab. He’s starting to do some activities, although very light activities.”
Left tackle Sam Baker is recovering from left knee surgery. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 12.
“Sam Baker is going to be off his crutches here soon,” Smith said. “We are going here in the right direction.”
Offensive lineman Mike Johnson, who suffered a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula in training camp, is also recovering. He was played on injured reserved on Aug. 9.
“Mike Johnson is actually back in the weight room,” Smith said.
Overall, Smith believes the recovery picture looks rather promising although he didn’t address fullback Bradie Ewing, who suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 16.
“That’s very positive that those guys continue to progress in there rehab,” Smith said. “We anticipate that there will be no setbacks and that they all will be ready to go when we start our offseason program.”
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