Julio Jones expected to play in Week 16 vs Carolina Panthers
After missing two games, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones will play this Saturday against Carolina.
The Falcons received an early Christmas present with the announcement of Julio Jones’ return. After sitting out his last two games, Jones returned to practice this week and feels good enough to play Saturday.
Head coach Dan Quinn announced to local reporters on Thursday that Jones will be available for Week 16. The All-Pro receiver is recovering from a toe injury suffered in the Falcons’ Week 13 loss to Kansas City.
#Falcons coach Dan Quinn tells local reporters after practice that WR Julio Jones (toe) will play this week after missing 2 games.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 22, 2016
Although Jones only has appeared in 12 games this year, he still leads the NFL in receiving yards. In fact, Julio Jones set a franchise record with 300 receiving yards in the Falcons’ last game against Carolina. If Jones can maintain his NFL receiving yards lead, it will be his second consecutive year doing so.
So far in 2016, Julio Jones has caught 72 balls for 1,253 yards and five touchdowns. It was announced earlier this week that he earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection.
Atlanta currently sits in first-place of the NFC South with a 9-5 record. The franchise was able to maintain their strong performance even in Jones’ absence, winning both games that he sat out. The upcoming game against Carolina will have massive playoff implications. Tampa Bay owns the divisions second-best record and only trails the Falcons by one game in the NFC South.
The Falcons control their destiny going forward, if they can win their two remaining games then the NFC South crown will be theirs.
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The Falcons will travel to Carolina on Saturday and play at 1 P.M.
Due to Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, the majority of the Week 16 games take place on Saturday (Christmas Eve).