Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is set to play against the Houston Texans on Saturday night.
Jones, who suffered a broken right foot last season, is dressed to play against the Houston Texans in an exhibition game nine months after having a cutting-edge surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal in his foot.
Wide receiver Drew Davis (foot), safety Zeke Motta (neck), running back Steven Jackson (left hamstring), linebacker Marquis Spruill (knee), offensive lineman Gabe Carimi (ankle) and defensive tackle Corey Peters (Achilles) were the only players listed as not dressing for the game.
Jones has not played any football since suffering the injury against the New York Jets on Oct. 5 at the Georgia Dome.
Jones, the Falcons’ dynamic young wide receiver has been practicing one day and taking the next day off. He practiced on Wednesday against the Texans and had Thursday off.
Jones’ problem was first noticed at the scouting combine in 2011. Jones had the original surgery and Dr. Robertson Anderson predicted a full recovery.
Jones was solid as a rookie in 2011 and went to the Pro Bowl after his second season in 2012. Last season, Jones caught 41 passes and was on a record-setting pace for a monster campaign before he suffered the broken foot.
The Falcons are counting on a cutting-edge medical procedure — a stem cell technique — to help heal Jones’ right foot.
Jones had a second and bigger screw inserted into the fifth metatarsal of his right foot,
As things started to unravel for the Falcons last
A lot will ride on Jones’ ability to return from the surgery, which also included renowned foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson of Charlotte, N.C., taking bone marrow — fluid and cells — from his hip and injecting it into his foot to hopefully aide the healing process.
It has not been studied if an elite athlete can recovery from second surgery on the same foot with a bigger screw and bone-marrow treatment, according to Dr. Alexis Colvin, an associate professor of sports medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Anderson, who is the Carolina Panthers’ team physician and a doctor at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, is considered one of the nation’s leading foot and ankle specialist.
Jones surgery was performed Oct. 14.
Over the offseason, the Falcons had to slow Jones’ return. He wanted to push things a little faster.
About the Author
