By now it’s clear that Falcons All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones isn’t completely healthy and may never be so during these playoffs. Judging by his history, it’s also a good bet that Jones will keep playing and do enough .
Jones said that, in spite of a lingering left foot injury, he will be “ready to go” for Sunday’s NFC championship game against the Packers. That’s no surprise because Jones has played the past three games with the issue. The plan is for Jones to get some practice repetitions with quarterback Matt Ryan during Friday’s light session.
The question is how effective Jones will be against the Packers. Jones couldn’t finish last weekend’s game against the Seahawks even after the foot had a chance to heal for two weeks. Jones also periodically removed himself from the final two regular-season games.
The good news for the Falcons is that, over the years, Jones has found a way to be effective even when he’s not feeling his best. He did it again against the Seahawks with six catches for 67 yards and a TD.
“I’ve had several injuries over the years,” Jones said. “I don’t like to take pain (medications) or anything like that. I like to feel the injury and see what I can do.”
The Falcons have been managing Jones’ foot injury so he would be available for a postseason run.
Jones sat out games during Weeks 14 (at Rams) and 15 (vs. 49ers). Jones later said he could have kept playing but was being “smart” with the foot so he would be available as the Falcons pushed for a playoff spot.
Jones played 39 snaps (62 percent) in a Falcons victory at Carolina that clinched the NFC South title. He played 49 snaps (79 percent) as they beat the Saints to clinch a bye for the wild-card round of the playoffs.
But Jones played just 42 of 72 offensive snaps (58 percent) against the Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoff game. Jones said he “felt a little snag” in his foot in the fourth quarter and headed to the locker room to have it examined because “the game was pretty much over” with the Falcons leading 29-13.
In spite of Jones’ injury setback, Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he’s not anxious about how effective Jones will be against the Packers.
“I’m not worried heading into the game, honestly,” Quinn said Thursday. “This is an injury he knows well. We are trying to get him to the game at his very best. His physical conditioning is good, the adjustments in the walk-through were good. We will make sure he gets some real work (Friday).”
Even before he began his NFL career, Jones showed that injuries don’t necessarily prevent him from being successful. He starred at the University of Alabama while playing through various lower-body injuries.
At the 2011 NFL combine Jones famously ran 40 yards in 4.39 seconds in spite of a broken bone in his right foot that later required surgery. The Falcons acquired the No. 6 overall pick in a blockbuster draft-day trade to select Jones, and he’s developed into perhaps the NFL’s best wide receiver.
Jones fractured a bone in the foot again during the 2013 season and missed 11 games. He underwent another surgery but has missed just three games since then while earning three straight Pro Bowl honors and two consecutive selections to the Associated Press All-Pro team.
Jones said he expects his body to be banged up from time to time.
“It just comes with it,” he said. “It’s hard for guys to tackle me when I’m trying to break a tackle. They either roll up on my ankle or roll up on my foot. That’s football.”
Even if Jones isn’t at full strength Sunday, the Packers have to account for him in their game plan. The Packers held Jones to three catches for 39 yards in a 33-32 Falcons victory on Oct. 30 but he limped off the field in the second quarter of that game and was targeted just once after halftime.
It’s possible that Jones may be limited again against the Packers but he said he’s confident in the team’s plan to get him ready.
“Everybody is going through pain right now,” Jones said. “My pain is no different than any of the guys on the team. Unfortunately for me, I’ve just been dealing with it for weeks now. The thing is, it works for me to be limited throughout practice and go on Sunday.
About the Author
