Falcons receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White are aiming for history this season.
Jones and White believe they have what it takes to become the first teammates in NFL history to each top 1,500 receiving yards in the same season.
“There ain’t no telling,” Jones told Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Me and Rod -- 1,500, 2,000 . . . You never know what we can do out there.”
Obviously, the idea that both Jones and White would top 2,000 yards -- a total no receiver has ever reached in a single season in NFL history -- is silly. But 1,500, while farfetched, is doable. Teammates have come close to doing it a couple of times, including in 1995 when Lions receiver Herman Moore had 1,686 yards and Brett Perriman added 1,488, and in 2000, when Rams receiver Torry Holt had 1,635 yards and Isaac Bruce added 1,471.
Last year White and Jones both missed time with injuries and they didn’t even combine for 1,500 yards, let alone get 1,500 each. But the year before White had 1,351 yards and Jones had 1,198, and that was in an offense with Tony Gonzalez catching 93 passes. Now that Gonzalez is retired, a healthy White and Jones could get even more passes thrown their way, and 1,500 yards each isn’t out of the question.
“I think it’s possible, absolutely,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “When you look at what Roddy has done historically here, he’s always been consistent. I think everybody knows what he’s capable of doing. Julio has had three really good years when he has been healthy. Last year through five games, certainly he was on pace to do that. I’m lucky to have two of the best guys and the best tandem in the NFL. I think they’re both going to have big years.”
As a pair, they’re aiming for the biggest year in NFL history.