The Atlanta Falcons didn’t have their two skill-position star players at 100 percent during the playoffs as wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman were both carrying injuries. Freeman, especially, played through a sprained MCL and PCL in his knee in their two playoff games which potentially required surgery.
But as Vaughn McClure of ESPN reports, head coach Dan Quinn has confirmed that neither Jones nor Freeman will go under the knife this offseason.
Jones, who pulled out of the Pro Bowl due to injury, had another strong year as he finished second in the league with 1,444 receiving yards. He was limited to just three touchdowns, which is the second-lowest total of his career, although that didn’t appear to be due to his physical condition. Despite suffering lingering injuries throughout the year, Jones still played all 16 games for the third time in his seven-year career.
As for Freeman, he had a bit of a down year compared to his previous two campaigns. He had 865 rushing yards, 317 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns this season, his first as the highest paid running back in the NFL. Freeman injured his knee in the regular-season finale against the Carolina Panthers and was relatively ineffective during the postseason.
It should bode well for the Falcons that two of their marquee stars won’t require more invasive remedies for their ailments. Hopefully, both of them can get back to 100 percent by the start of next season and continue to carry a significant load within the Falcons offense.
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