The Atlanta Falcons' 2013 season was hammered with injuries across the roster. The team lost several star players for multiple games and some for the entire season. The result was the worst season in Matt Ryan and head coach Mike Smith's tenure. They are hoping for different results this season and while they have already lost linebacker Sean Weatherspoon for the season, they are getting back plenty of players missing from last year, the most important being Julio Jones.
Smith told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that the wide receiver has been cleared to participate in training camp. Jones was leading the NFL with 580 yards and two touchdowns before injuring his foot in Week 5. He underwent season-ending surgery and is now stepping back onto the field for the first time. He underwent what was reported as a "cutting-edge medical procedure" where he had stem cells to ensure his right foot will remain health after he previously brook it prior to getting injured again.
"He will be limited in terms of his snaps," Smith said, via the Journal-Constitution. "Our No. 1 goal is to make sure that we've got everybody as healthy as we possibly can be, but we know that we have to get these guys some work together and reps. Julio will be out there participating in practice right from the start."
Jones return comes as a welcome sight to Falcons' fans as Roddy White is also expected to be healthy entering training camp. White broke his impressive streak of 1,000-yard seasons and consecutive starts after suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason and hamstring issues later on. Pairing the injuries with the absence of Jones and White struggled to get through defensive coverages to make an impact.
However, the struggles of Jones and White meant the rise of Harry Douglas, the No. 3 receiver who took over as Ryan's top target outside of Tony Gonzalez last season. Douglas had a career-high season last year with 1,067 yards and two touchdowns. He proved himself extremely worthy of Ryan's attention and became fantasy gold for owners.
The return of Jones and White will certainly hurt those fantasy numbers heading into 2014 so owners beware. Douglas is guaranteed to get more looks simply because he proved trustworthy. The departure of Tony Gonzalez will mean Douglas is more important to the offense as well, but the likelihood he puts up another 1,000-yard season is not high.