Falcons coach Mike Smith is optimistic wide receiver Julio Jones will be able to start against the Steelers on Sunday, as Jones continues to shake off a hip injury sustained on Monday night.
More from Atlanta Falcons
- Kyle Pitts: It’s a new aura when it comes to the Atlanta Falcons defense
- Kyle Pitts sees Desmond Ridder, A.J. Terrell as tremendous leaders for the Falcons
- NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
- Bijan Robinson hypes up Falcons’ defense with chip on their shoulder
- Bijan Robinson sees championships in Texas’ immediate future
If you went into your Fantasy football game on Monday night needing help from Julio Jones, you definitely got….and then some.
Jones caught 11 passes for a Falcons franchise record 259 yards in Atlanta’s 43-30 loss at Green Bay, yet Jones could have had an even bigger night had it not been for a hip injury he sustained. That hip remains pretty sore on Tuesday, but Atlanta coach Mike Smith feels that Jones will able to go when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Georgia Dome on Sunday.
The need for Jones is crucial for the Falcons (5-8), who are now tied with the Saints for first place in the meek NFC South. Quarterback Matt Ryan targeted Jones in 18 of his 39 attempts on Monday and has thrown in Jones’ direction 31 times in the last two weeks.
Monday’s outburst also allowed Jones to overtake the Steelers’ Brown for first place in yardage. Jones now has 1,428 yards and faces a Steelers secondary that is 23rd against the pass while allowing 28 touchdowns. With three games remaining, Jones is on pace for 1,758 yards, which would be the fourth-highest total in NFL history.
Considering that the Falcons will close out the regular season against the weak secondaries of the Saints and Panthers, Jones stands an outside chance of breaking Lions wideout Calvin Johnson’s league-record 1,964 yards, which Megatron set during the 2012 season.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return