The Falcons defense, which has had trouble stopping the run and is faced with playing a running quarterback, will receive a boost from the return of middle linebacker Deion Jones.
“Deion is ready to roll,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said on Friday. “He had an excellent week and really looked like himself. I was optimistic the whole week to see where he would land. He really nailed it all week long.”
Jones, who went to the Pro Bowl and was the team's leading tackler last season with 138, hasn't played since the season opener when he suffered a broken foot. He'd been back practicing with the team since being activated on Nov. 12.
“He’s dying to get going and we’re dying to have him back out there,” Quinn said.
Jones will start alongside linebackers DeVondre Campbell and rookie Foye Oluokun in the team’s base defense.
“It’s going to be fun getting back out there with my boys again,” Jones said. “We can set the tone and have some fun together.”
Jones is expecting a transition.
“There is going to be a lot going on emotionally, but it’s about being out there with my boys and having fun,” Jones said.
Last week, Jones was still doing some work with the scout team.
The Falcons’ run defense, which has been porous during a three-game losing streak, will face a unique challenge when they face the Ravens, who have crafted a two-game win streak behind a strong rushing attack that has featured running back Gus Edwards and quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Joe Flacco, Baltimore’s starting quarterback, is listed as doubtful for the game with a hip injury.
The Falcons used wide receivers Russell Gage, Marvin Hall and Mohamed Sanu to try to simulate Jackson’s abilities in practice this week.
“We had three players to really help on the quarterback side,” Quinn said. “They all kind of chipped in to help out.”
Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner from Louisville, was selected with the 32nd pick in the first round. He’s started the past two games because of Flacco’s hip injury. Jackson rushed the ball 37 times in wins over Cincinnati and Oakland.
The Falcons have noted that they’ve played running backs in Carolina’s Cam Newton and New Orleans’ Taysom Hill this season. In the past, Jones has been used as a spy at times on Newton on read-pass-option plays.
Jones, who's also fast, has been used to track down the quarterback on keepers or bootlegs, too.The Falcons' run defense has been part of the team's slide to the fringes of the NFC playoff race. They've given up 221, 132 and 150 yards in the three-game losing streak after pulling even to 4-4.
Also, Cleveland’s Nick Chubb powered through the defense for 176 yards. Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott slashed through the unit for 122 yards. New Orleans’ Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara did the thunder-and-lightning deal on their way to 141 yards against the Falcons.
Against the Ravens, the Falcons will have Jones to help them account for the speedy Jackson.
“Lamar is a special athlete,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He does a really good job of moving the ball in the run game for them.”
The players were excited to get Jones back.
“The thing for Deion is that needs to focus on being himself and not trying to go out and do too much,” Campbell said. “I mean, it was a tough decision for him to make. I feel like he did what was best for himself and for the team.”
While rehabbing, Jones has been meeting with the linebackers at 7 a.m. in the morning to mentally stay into the games.
“That says a lot about the man and ball player,” Quinn said. “He provides a lot of energy on the field, but he provides a lot off the field.”
After dropping their last three games, the Falcons needed a lift.
“To have Deion back in the mix, there is definitely an energy about it,” Quinn said. “The team was definitely excited.”
Quinn repeatedly said, he didn’t want to bring Jones back until he was 100 percent ready and could play without any limitations.
“We’ll keep a close eye on him, but he really is fit,” Quinn said. “I can tell how hard he worked from a conditioning standpoint.”
Jones, who was a second-round pick (52nd overall) in 2016 out of LSU, has started 30 of 32 NFL games and has made 253 tackles.
Jones said he learned a lesson while out.
“I’m not taking playing for granted,” Jones said. “You can be in one play and out the next game.”
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