The Atlanta Falcons managed to once again enter another playoff game with a squeaky clean injury report outside of star wide receiver Julio Jones. Unfortunately, he is the player that will be most vital to their chances of defending the NFC crown this year.
The five-time Pro Bowler missed two days of practice as a result of the lingering ankle injury he has been nursing. However, Jones is adamant about not letting it be an excuse come Saturday versus the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN's Vaughn McClure.
“The thing with being injured is really just blocking it out,” Jones told the media Thursday following practice. “Don't use it as an excuse. If you say you're going to go, go. Don't bring it up in the middle of the game like, ‘Oh, this hurt.' Like, we know that. … So don't let your mind be negative. Just stay positive. If something's hurting or anything like that, I never relate back to it like, ‘Oh, it's…' Well, I know it hurts. You don't want to talk about it and bring that stuff up during the game.
“If I suit up, I'm going. I'm not saying anything about it. It is what it is. I'm out there.”
Dealing with injuries is nothing new for Jones. He's endured a number of injuries throughout the entire 2017 NFL season yet still managed to register 88 catches for 1,444 yards and three touchdowns.
While he may have taken fewer trips to the red zone, he is still priority No. 1 when it comes to opposing defenses. That said, the playoffs have unlocked a whole new beast in Jones after gashing the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card with nine catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
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