Falcons unsure when Julio Jones will return
The Falcons will be without one of their premiere offensive weapons for OTA’s this week as wide receiver, Julio Jones is still recovering from foot surgery.
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While the timetable on Jones’ return is uncertain at this point, Falcons wide receiver coach Terry Robiskie told Pro Football Talk that he is cautiously optimistic:
"The day I can see him come out and just run and practice at full speed, practice all day and get up the next day and practice again, certainly then I’m going to feel he’s back. I think every day, we’ll be out there with him with caution. We’ll be watching him a little bit kind of standing on pins and needles. I think if he jumps in the air to catch the ball, if he jumps on top of some [defensive back] and some DB is under him, you’re nervous.But again, I don’t know if it’s necessarily that I’m nervous that Julio is jumping in the air catching the ball. You’re just nervous when one of your guys is jumping up to catch the ball. . . . You’re nervous about two guys and their feet getting tangled up. You’re nervous about their knees getting [knocked]."
Jones injured his foot in Week 5 of last season, and did not return for the rest of the year. Jones’ injury was just one of the many reasons why the Falcons finished the year 4-12.
With Jones being such an integral part of the offense, expect for the Falcons to take his comeback slow this offseason so that he is ready to go come opening kickoff.