FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said wide receiver Julio Jones, who is dealing with turf toe, is a game-time decision for Sunday's road matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, but Quinn added that he anticipates that Jones will play.
Jones is listed as questionable on the injury report. He did not practice all week but did participate in walkthroughs. Jones jogged through some light drills without a helmet at the start of Friday's practice.
"We'll do some stuff at the walkthrough (Saturday), and then Sunday we'll go out and let him run some full-speed routes, go through the process,'' Quinn said after Friday's practice. "It's not the catching. Just want to see the full-speed routes. That's what the plan is. His intent is to go and play. We're anticipating that, but we'll see where it goes on Sunday morning.''
Jones has dealt with ankle, calf, knee and shoulder injuries this season without missing a game. He suffered turf toe in this past Sunday's 29-28 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Medical experts say the mildest case of turf toe typically requires one to four weeks of recovery.
Jones leads the NFL with 1,253 receiving yards on 72 catches with five touchdowns.
Quinn did rule out Jones' fellow wide receiver Mohamed Sanu with a groin strain and defensive end Adrian Clayborn coming off knee surgery, but the coach sounded optimistic about left tackle Jake Matthews playing coming off a knee sprain. Matthews is listed as questionable, as is backup safety Robenson Therezie (ankle).
"Jake practiced today and looked really good,'' Quinn said.
The potential of playing without Jones and Sanu means the Falcons will need players such as Taylor Gabriel, Justin Hardy and Aldrick Robinson to step up at wide receiver for quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcons also promoted Nick Williams from the practice squad Friday, a move directly related to Sanu's status.
The 7-5 Falcons are tied atop the NFC South with Tampa Bay with four games remaining. The Buccaneers host the New Orleans Saints (5-7) Sunday.