The Falcons front office has said repeatedly that a new deal with Julio Jones was “right around the corner.” The team promised him last year that they would work out a new deal in 2019, and as of today, that still hasn’t happened.
That’s why today’s media availability with Julio Jones was so important. When asked if he would commit to playing on Sunday against the Vikings, the All-Pro wide receiver was extremely non-committal, fueling speculation that he could hold out in the critical first game of the season if he doesn’t get a new deal soon.