Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman unlikely to play in exhibition games
Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman will not play against Jacksonville in the team’s dress rehearsal exhibition game at 7 p.m. Saturday at TIAA Bank Stadium.
Both did not play in the first two games against the New York Jets and Kansas City and will not “likely” play in the final exhibition game against Miami.
“Likely,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said when asked when the two stars would also be held out of the exhibition finale against the Dolphins. “Some of it is based on their injury history. If there is something that I felt they needed, I would have adjusted that.”
Jones has a history of soft tissue injuries and Freeman suffered a knee injury late last season that did not require surgery and two concussions.
Also, guard Ben Garland (strain) will not be play against Jacksonville.
Kicker Matt Bryant, who’s not kicked in the two previous games with an undisclosed injury, will test his leg on Wednesday. Last week, he kicked about 15 balls on Wednesday, but was held out of the Friday game against Kansas City.
Linebacker Deion Jones (strain), who didn’t play against the Chiefs, will run this week and is considered day-to-day.
Subscribe to "The Bow Tie Chronicles" podcast with the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter on iTunes or on the new AJC sports podcasts page.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
