The Atlanta Falcons fell to 3-9 with their loss to the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night, and some have wondered if they will consider resting their star players down the stretch since they have no chance of making the playoffs. According to head coach Dan Quinn, that is not going to happen.
Julio Jones missed Thursday’s game with a shoulder injury, and it is unclear when he will return. Quinn was asked about possibly of shutting him and/or Matt Ryan down for the final four games of the season, and he quickly dismissed the idea.
“I recognize fair question, but no. Part of playing and competing is going for it in the biggest way,” Quinn said, per ESPN’s Vaughn McClure. “So we’ll always take that approach. Now for a player that is injured like Julio, but not just him, for any of the players, to make sure, we’re always gonna make the best decisions for them.”
Ryan battled an ankle injury recently, but he is fully recovered from that. He is, however, Atlanta’s franchise quarterback, and to say he has been taking a beating would be an understatement. Ryan was sacked nine times against the Saints and has been sacked 15 times in the Falcons’ last two games.
It goes without saying that the 2019 season has been a major disappointment for Atlanta, and it would not be a surprise if a coaching change is coming. With Quinn currently on the hot seat, benching star players losing out would be a good way to get himself fired.
