Julio out vs. Chargers due to hamstring injury, could be shut down for season

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones won't play in Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him from practice this week, interim head coach Raheem Morris announced Friday.

Morris added the team will decide later whether the star pass-catcher will be shut down for the rest of the season, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 4-8 Falcons are all but eliminated from playoff contention.

Jones missed one of last week's three practices with the hamstring issue but managed to suit up for the Week 13 loss to the New Orleans Saints, catching six passes for 94 yards in the contest.

With Jones out against Los Angeles, Russell Gage is set for an expanded role alongside Calvin Ridley.

The 31-year-old Jones - who has missed three games this season - has racked up 51 catches, 771 yards, and three touchdowns in nine starts. The veteran is averaging his worst yards-per-game mark (85.7) since his sophomore season in 2012.

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