Julio Jones Injury: Falcons Must Rest Star WR vs. Titans

When Julio Jones has been on the field this season, he's been a genuine impact receiver. The problem is that he's missed a lot of time this year. Partially because of that, the Falcons are 5-4 and fighting for their playoff lives.

The Falcons official injury report is listing Jones as questionable for the teams game on Sunday vs. the Titans. The hamstring injury has kept him from practicing all week.

Now, hamstring injuries are always tricky. It's tough to predict what the recovery process is for those injuries, and playing on them almost guarantees further injury and ineffective play. 

There's nothing I am saying that Jones and the Falcons don't know. 

So, for the remainder of the season, what should the Falcons do?

Well, they really need to sit Jones on Sunday against the Titans. In Atlanta, the Titans aren't a team that the Falcons should significantly struggle with. They have other big stars (Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez) to carry the offense and a defense that shouldn't struggle too much against the Titans.

Even if benching Jones costs Atlanta the game against the Titans, what does playing him do? Well, it puts him at risk for the season's final six games. They will need him badly to make the playoffs in the NFC.

While it's not likely that playing Jones would risk Jones' long term future, that is something that needs to at least be considered. 

Ultimately, the Falcons need to weigh their options and make a decision. Frankly, he's way too good and far too way frail, especially this season, to risk playing while he's banged up.

If the Falcons can't beat the Titans without him, then they probably weren't going to win with him. His presence will be sorely needed as the season progresses.

It's simple mathematics, really. Six games takes priority over one.