Whether you’re a fan of the Atlanta Falcons or a fantasy football enthusiast, odds are you’ve heard the news surrounding Julio Jones’ injured toe. Jones sat out last week’s game against the Rams, and it was reported that he was dealing with a dreaded turf toe injury. We’ve talked about this specific injury on the blog numerous times in the past.
Today, Falcons coach Dan Quinn addressed the rumors about Jones’ injury, stating that it’s more like a “sprain” than a standard turf toe injury.
“Julio has a toe sprain, it’s not turf toe,” Quinn said in an interview on Atlanta’s 92.9 The Game radio. “But he does have a toe sprain. For him, we’re going to take him day to day. He’ll maybe do some of the walkthrough today, but he won’t participate in the full-team activity at practice. So, he’s still dealing with that sprain. It’s definitely improving. But in terms of full-speed cutting on it, we’re not there yet.”
The Difference Between Turf Toe and Toe Sprains
Is there really a difference between turf toe and a toe sprain, or is Quinn simply using interchangable terms to describe the same condition? It turns out that although they both affect the toe, they are actually two different injuries. Here’s a quick overview of the two conditions:
Turf Toe – A turf toe injury occurs when the big toe is forced upward, causing sprains or tears of the plantar ligaments and tendons. Because it results in ligament and tendon damage, it can cause major problems, leaving players sidelined for weeks or months at a time.
Sprained Toe – A toe sprain, on the other hand, typically involves a mild sprain to the metatarsophalangeal joint in the the big toe. These types of sprains are much more mild, and typically an athlete can return to the field in one-to-four weeks.
Assuming the injury is actually a toe sprain, there’s a decent chance Jones suits up Sunday against the 49ers. Atlanta needs to win the game to continue their push to the playoffs, but there’s also the notion that the Falcons may be able to give Julio another week of rest while still coming away with a win. The Falcons are playing at home against the San Francisco 49ers, who have won one game this season. Atlanta is favored by double digits, so it seems likely they could handle the 49ers without Julio Jones. Although I believe he would play if the playoffs began today, I believe the Falcons will rest Jones one more week to give him more time to fully recover and take their chances against the lowly 49ers without his services.