Why Buccaneers shouldn’t worry about Julio Jones injuries
By John Paul
The Buccaneers went out and signed one of the best wide receivers in the NFL when he is healthy. Can Julio Jones actually stay healthy?
Since the news broke that wide receiver Julio Jones was signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a one year contract, the sports world has been set ablaze with discussions surrounding the star wide receiver’s viability and how much he will positively impact the Bucs.
More than anything else, the conversations surround Jones have focused on his health, which has been a major issue for him over the last few seasons. The worry about Jones’ health is not unfounded. Since 2020, Jones has missed a concerning number of games because of a nagging hamstring injury.
Many talking heads have already hinged his impact on the Bucs this year to Jones’ ability to remain healthy for the full season, or at the very least most of it.
Especially considering Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin’s frequency of injuries, the team cannot afford to have another season like last year when Brady was throwing to third-string receivers at various points.
The good news for the Bucs is that there is a high likelihood that Jones can manage to stay healthy this year, simply because of the role he will fill on the team.
Jones isn’t expected to be the number one option or even the number two guy. Playing behind guys like Godwin and Evans only benefits an aging Jones who doesn’t need to push it too hard; he only needs to be an option to distract from the Bucs’ other targets.
Additionally, Jones doesn’t need to play every week. If the Bucs find themselves up big in a game or playing an opponent they can easily beat, they can and should be letting Jones rest or play a minor role in those games.
Though nothing can guarantee no injuries to occur, Jones’ position in the offense and on the depth chart should provide him with the best opportunity to play all year and make a major positive impact on the team.
Trending. Where Julio Jones should fall on Buccaneers depth chart. light
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