Feb. 5 (UPI) — All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones is in no danger of missing Sunday’s Super Bowl, but he’ll need to address his toe this offseason.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Jones “faces the prospect” of surgery on the sprained toe after the Super Bowl. The Atlanta Falcons star will be evaluated after his team battles the New England Patriots tonight.
Jones, 27, had 1,409 yards and six touchdowns on 83 receptions this season. Last season, he led the NFL with 136 receptions and 1,871 yards. He has led the league in yards per game in consecutive seasons. The four-time Pro Bowl selection has also been dealing with a sprained ankle, which will not require surgery. Rapoport reported that surgery on the toe is “either likely or possible depending on whom you ask.”
He has been dealing with the turf toe or toe sprain for most of the season and has remained a fixture on the injury report. He missed two games in December, before aggravating the injury against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC playoffs.
Jones had nine receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers in the AFC Championship. He was sidelined at practices last week and was limited this week.
“We’re going to ramp up practice,” Jones said on Wednesday, via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra. “We’re not going to make [practice time] up. Just basically going back to normal practice for me. That’s it, though. I’m not limited anymore.”
A potential surgery would include months of recovery, but would not likely delay Jones’ 2017 season. Jones wasn’t listed on the Falcons’ final injury report.