Falcons All-Pro Julio Jones announced himself fully recovered from offseason foot surgery.
“I’m in shape. I’m ready to go,” Jones said after practice on Monday.
Jones had surgery to remove a bunion, a bony bump on his left foot that caused him to miss substantial practice time late last season. He was brought along slowly in training camp and had his plays in practice increased on Sunday.
Despite the foot problem and other injuries, Jones led the NFC with 1,409 receiving yards in 2016.
However, despite being “ready to go,” he’s not expecting to play in the second exhibition game against Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Field.
“I could play,” Jones said. “But …we are not rushing anything. We know what I can do. It’s all about just coming out here and fine tuning.
“I’m just staying on top of my game and having everybody comfortable like with (quarterback) Matt (Ryan) with the timing on certain routes that we run, that I haven’t ran with him the past. Those are the things to come out here and stay on top of those.”
Jones previewed that he and Ryan will be running different route combinations in some tweaks to the offensive system by first-year coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
“I’m excited about his offense,” said Jones, a two-time All-Pro selection. “I’m very excited about it. When he dials it up, we’ll be ready to go.”
Jones has spent some time off to the side working with Ryan and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.
“That is what training camp is about,” Jones said. “If you can hit these plays or if you can’t hit them or are they going to be difficult or whatever. Everything has been great for us.”
The Falcons have made the red zone an emphasis in training camp. Sarkisian also promised to see if there was a way to get Jones more involved in the redzone offense.
Jones, who had six touchdowns catches during the regular season, would welcome more redzone passes.
“I’m going to say ‘give it to me,’ ” Jones said. “I’m not going to say, ‘no, don’t give it to me.’ If he’s willing to dial it up, dial it up.”
Getting Jones the ball in the red zone is problematic because he attracts so much double-coverage and sometimes triple-coverage from defenses.
“We’ll see,” Jones said. “We’ll just see what the defense gives us. Sark hasn’t been here and defensive coordinators, you know, try to take me away. Once we get past the 40-yard line, the 30-yard line and red zone or 25-yard line. Hey, watch out. They really try to take me away, but it will be interesting.”
Jones said Sarkisian has a few tricks up his sleeve that the coordinators haven’t seen or may have to adjust.
“He’s been doing a great job of moving me around and giving me different routes,” Jones said. “So, we’ll see.”
Quinn doesn’t seem to mind Jones becoming a decoy in the redzone.
“He gets so much unique coverage,” Quinn said. “When (opportunities) open up for him we’ve got to take advantage and sometimes when coverage goes his way, that’s when other guys have been able to make their mark. He’s been a factor in the red zone as well.”
Jones’ foot is holding up well as the Falcons push toward the regular season.
“I really practice all day (Sunday),” Jones said. “I feel great. No setbacks. I moved around (Monday.) I’m feeling good. But it’s on them to make the decision.”
He’s leaving the playing-time decision up to the coaches and trainers.
“We communicate with each other and try to make the best decision as far as me moving forward, as far as reps and (exhibition) season games,” Jones said. “The ultimate goal is to be ready (for the regular season) though.”
Jones believes his timing with Ryan will be fine.
“It’s been great,” Jones said. “I’ve been with Matt. This is my seventh year with him now. There isn’t too much we have to do as far as timing. But we have some new plays in and some new things that Sark wants to run. Those little things, we do have to get timing on those.”
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