A bad season just got a lot worse in Atlanta.
The 1-4 Falcons won’t have receiver Julio Jones for the final 11 regular-season games, or for the postseason. In the unlikely event they make it to the postseason.
“Unfortunately, Julio’s appointment with the doctor today confirmed our initial findings,” coach Mike Smith said in a team-issued release. “He is scheduled to have a season-ending procedure on Monday.”
The Falcons have had five straight winning seasons. Before 2009, they’d never had two in a row.
Without Jones, players like Harry Douglas and Drew Davis will have to step up. With Roddy White likely to miss time due to a hamstring injury, it’ll be even more important for healthy players to fill the void.
The injury comes at an inopportune time for Jones personally. He’s eligible for a new contract after the 2013 season. The Falcons may now be inclined to wait until they know he’ll be the same guy that he was, after surgical repair of his foot.