Falcons Pro Bowl WR Julio Jones set to play vs. Vikings

In what's become a rarity since the kickoff of the NFL regular season, the 0-5 Atlanta Falcons provided fans with some good news ahead of Sunday's clash with the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings. 

Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones, twice named First-Team All-Pro, carries no injury designation heading into the weekend and is expected to take the field against Minnesota. 

Jones first appeared to tweak his hamstring during the 40-39 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 20. While the 31-year-old gave it a go when Atlanta fell to the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 5, he sat during the second half of the contest because of the setback. 

Jones missed last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, which Atlanta dropped for its fifth consecutive loss. The Falcons were thrown into additional uncertainty after that defeat when owner Arthur Blank relieved coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff of their duties and then failed to commit to veteran quarterback Matt Ryan beyond the current season when speaking with reporters after the dismissals. 

"We rent these lockers; we don't own them," Ryan said in response. "We have to go out and pay that rent and earn your spot day in and day out. Regardless of whether you're in Year 1 or Year 13, that's our responsibility as players all of the time is to go out there and perform, that's what we're paid to do. I don't worry about it. I understand where everyone is coming from, I understand where I'm at my career. But I also believe in compartmentalizing things and focusing on what's in front of us this week and the job that I have to do. We've got 11 ball games to go this season and we've got to find a way to get some wins and get back in the mix. That's where our mindset has to be at."

As was expected earlier in the week, Minnesota ruled starting running back Dalvin Cook out for Sunday's game because of an adductor strain he suffered in last Sunday's 27-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.