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D-line duo to be sidelined with Julio Jones at Falcons' OTAs

Atlanta Falcons defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn and Derrick Shelby will join All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones and Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant as players held out for the start of next week's organized team activities, multiple sources told ESPN.

Coach Dan Quinn previously said both Jones and Trufant would be sidelined during OTAs and likely up until training camp while coming off foot and pectoral surgeries, respectively. The statuses of Clayborn and Shelby were a little unclear despite injuries that ended their 2016 season prematurely.

Clayborn suffered a torn biceps in a Jan. 14 divisional playoff win over Seattle and was told a full recovery would take five months from when he suffered the injury. Shelby tore his Achilles in a Oct. 16 game at Seattle and faced up to eight months of recovery.

"Adrian Clayborn ... he's doing well," Quinn said at the end of March. "And then Derrick Shelby had an Achilles injury like the fifth week of the year. He looks good physically. He's actually changed his body. ... He looks different as a guy walking around. You can see the size, the strength. He looks great. .... All of them are in different phases of their rehab, but all we anticipate being fully ready."

When he said "fully ready," Quinn was referring to training camp and the start of the season. There is no need to rush any of the players back into action now, particularly Jones, who coming off a March 6 surgery to remove a bunion on his left foot. Jones told ESPN everything is on schedule for a training camp return in late July.

The Falcons officially begin OTAs next Tuesday after having their first three days of those activities wiped away this week due to an NFL rules violation from last year related to excessive on-field contact.

While the Falcons will be without Jones, Trufant, Clayborn, Shelby, and rookie first-round draft pick Takkarist McKinley from UCLA (shoulder rehab/NFL college finals rules) for OTAs, Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is set to participate after playing through the Super Bowl with a non-displaced fracture in his left fibula.

The Falcons have OTAs this coming Tuesday, June 1-2, June 5-6, and June 8-9. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-and-11 drills are allowed.

Mandatory minicamp is June 13-15.