A big reason why the Falcons’ 2013 season went as poorly as it did was because of injuries that kept key players on the sideline for long portions of the season.
Wide receiver Julio Jones and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon were two of the most valuable missing pieces for Atlanta and the Falcons are doing everything they can to make sure both players are good to go for next season. Coach Mike Smith said that neither player will be “doing a whole lot” during OTAs or the team’s mandatory minicamp as they continue to progress toward 100 percent.
“Our focus is strictly on getting them ready to go for training camp,” Smith said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
If either absence is a factor in the spring, it might be Weatherspoon’s as the Falcons are moving in some different directions on defense that could impact Weatherspoon’s role. Playing catchup on that front is far better than playing games without Weatherspoon come the fall, though.