The Falcons entered Super Bowl week on a high note, but like all teams this time of year, not everyone is healthy.
Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters Tuesday that both center Alex Mack and wide receiver Julio Jones were limited in practice Monday, though he expects their activity to increase throughout the week. Mack sustained an ankle injury in a resounding win over the Packers and Jones has been dealing with a lingering toe issue for some time now.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport noted last week that it would not be a surprise to see Mack rest until the Super Bowl, noting that the swollen ankle is quite painful.
For vastly different reasons, Mack and Jones' performances have been instrumental in Atlanta's run to the Super Bowl. Jones, despite the toe injury, has been exceedingly difficult to cover. His physical strength makes him almost impossible to leave in single coverage. Mack has helped catalyze one of the best run-based offenses in recent NFL history.
As of now, there is no reason to believe that either will miss the big game or that their injuries will end up being a major storyline (Mack played through the ankle issue against the Packers). But in a game where every slight advantage matters, it is worth keeping an eye on.
