Julio Jones has yet to be seen at Atlanta Falcons practice this week. After breaking a franchise record following his performance against the Green Bay Packers, the wide receiver has not even spoken with the media as he deals with an undisclosed hip injury. The Falcons have continued to say that Jones is simply sore, but no one knows for sure. With three crucial games left to play in order to make the playoffs, head coach Mike Smith is confident that Jones will see the field on Sunday.
According to Smith, the team is encouraged with how Jones has impressed with his recovery following his early exit from the Packers game. According Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Jones will likely play on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he will not be 100 percent. Instead, Jones could be on the field as more of a decoy role for the team, much like Roddy White was while he was hampered with injuries last season. Smith believes that two more days will be enough to get Jones on the field.
"I think that there's a chance that these guys will be ready to go," Smith said, via theAtlanta Journal-Constitution. "Both of them have made a big turnaround in the first 48 hours. Unusually, that first 48 hours is a pretty good indicator. They both will be game time decisions, but do like the way that they've progressed through the first 48 hours."
The Falcons continue to be dominated with injuries. White is also not 100 percent as he nurses an ankle injury that has bothered him all season. According to White, if he puts on pads, he is going to give 100 percent on the field, injury or no injury. White's numbers were not as big as Jones' against Green Bay, but he managed three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown while Smith praises his effort in the loss.
"Roddy is a guy that's going to fight through injury, and he was injured," Smith said. "He's had an ankle injury. He played, by the way, the most snaps of any wide receiver in the game last night. It's hard to keep him out. When you look at the play count, Roddy had more snaps than any of the wide receivers. When Roddy had his opportunities and the ball went his way, he made some big-time catches. I think that's why we threw the ball so efficiently there in the second half of the game."
The ground game will be critical for the Falcons against the Steelers. Matt Ryan has been pushing Steven Jackson and Devonta Freeman to be more involved in the offense especially with the injuries to both White and Jones. While the game against the Steelers is not a must-win, the final matchups between the Saints and Panthers are.
