Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and left the 35-22 loss to Tampa Bay Sunday.
The Falcons trailed the Bucs 25-10 in the third quarter when Jones returned with less than 6 minutes to play. He left the game again, favoring his right shoulder.
The Falcons were already without running back Devonta Freeman and tight end Austin Hooper.
Jones, the team’s leading receiver, had five catches for 68 yards.
Quarterback Matt Ryan admired Jones’ want to return to the field.
“His willingness to go out there and compete is unmatched,” Ryan said. “Today, let’s face it, he was hurting. I’ve always been impressed with his toughness and competitiveness.”