Color that Mike Smith an optimist: Despite the Falcons' losing their prize Draft pick Julio Jones to a hamstring injury for two games (and a bye week), Smith opted to find the silver lining in the rookie's absence as a time to soak in the offense he was so quickly thrown into after the lockout in July:
"...I think when you have a negative, when a guy gets hurt, it is a negative, but there’s also some positives that can come out of it. I think for Julio, being able to stand on the side and just kind of watch, he’s kind of been thrown in from the beginning of July. To get an opportunity to watch some of the other guys go through the practices and spend time watching and not necessarily participating can be a positive."
Smith then added that a decade of playoff collapses for the crosstown Braves were "a great chance for stadium concession workers to earn an extra paycheck or two before the holiday season!" and then released two doves into the air, both named D'Angelo Hall.
Jones practiced with the team again on Thursday, continuing a week of limited involvement after not practicing at all since the injury occurred against Green Bay October 9. Here's a full list of the Falcons' injury report from Thursday:
| DE John Abraham (not injury related) | Full Participation | ||
| T Sam Baker (back) | Did Not Practice - Out | ||
| TE Tony Gonzalez (back) | Limited Participation | ||
| WR Julio Jones (hamstring) | Limited Participation | ||
| C Todd McClure (not injury related) | Full Participation | ||
| CB Chris Owens (concussion) | Full Participation |