The Atlanta Falcons are playing it safe with receiver Julio Jones, who won’t play when Atlanta takes on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn officially ruled out Jones (toe) on Friday.
Dan Quinn says WR Julio Jones is out on Sunday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2016
Jones, who ranks first in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,253, will miss his second consecutive game. He sprained his toe during Atlanta’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 4.
Quinn said Jones wouldn’t play until he is pain free.
“Really, just being able to explode pain-free,” Quinn said, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN. “When that parts comes. We’ll definitely have him run some today. … And then tomorrow, really get up and test it and push it. So that will be the next phase. He did well in the first part today, with a little bounce to him going through the walk-through. Our walk-through is more jogging, but tomorrow we’ll push him a little further.”
While fantasy football owners may disagree, the Falcons can probably afford to play the 49ers—who haven’t won since Week 1—without Jones. San Francisco currently has the worst scoring defense in the NFL this season.
The Falcons are averaging 32.9 points per game in 2016, which is the best in the league. Atlanta scored 42 points without Jones during a win over the Los Angeles Rams last week.
An All-Pro receiver who produced over 1,800 receiving yards last season, Jones has 72 catches for 1,253 yards and five touchdowns over 12 games in 2016.
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