If you are, or should say were, a Julio Jones owner, I am sure you nearly threw your laptop or computer out the window when it was reported he could miss the entire year with an injured foot. Jones, who has been a cornerstone of the Falcons passing game, appears to be done for the season. Nothing is set in stone, but owners are waiting for the inevitable.
NFL Insider Jay Glazer broke the news Tuesday that the Falcons fear Jones would be lost for the season due to a foot injury, but Jones was expected to get another opinion to determine the severity. National Football Post's Jason Cole was told by a team source that Jones "broke the screw that was put in his foot in his 2011 surgery." It's fairly rare to hear of such an injury. That's a pretty intense thing to hear. Jones is expected to get more tests done on Wednesday, but it's only a matter of time. The team has yet to confirm that Jones will miss the rest of the year, but it appears that the injured reserve is where he is destined. Maybe he jinxed himself with that "Give Julio Jones a new endzone dance" commercial they played during Week 5.
In the meantime, what happens to the Falcons? Roddy White is still dealing with an ankle injury. Adam Schefter also reported that he could miss yet another game due to a pulled hamstring. The Falcons have a bye this week and the hope was that White (and Steven Jackson) would return for Week 7. Hamstring injuries and receivers don't mix well, so White could easily miss another 2 weeks and not return until Week 9.
This domino affect also puts the bulls eye squarely on Matt Ryan's fantasy value. The Falcons are 1-4, but none of that falls on Ryan as he is averaging over 330 yards a game and has 10 scores to just 3 interceptions. The lack of a running game has crippled the team, which it has done for the last few years. Now that both starting receivers are gimped up, Ryan owners should be looking for some insurance as the kid can only do so much with what he will be given. Tony Gonzalez is still around. Douglas has shown glimpses of special talent, but it will be tough to recoup a lot of the numbers White and Jones can put up weekly. I see a veteran signing in the next week or so. How could they not?
It's been a tough 2013 for many owners. Players who were hyped in the offseason like Lamar Miller and C.J. Spiller aren't putting up the numbers we had hoped. Injuries are looming more and more every week with Darren McFadden and Owen Daniels recently put on the shelf.
My advice is to keep trucking on, maneuver around on the waiver wire, make trades and do what you can to keep the team afloat.