Julio Jones Likely To Sit Out Falcons Training Camp

The Atlanta Falcons will start training camp later this week without one of their star players.

Wide-receiver Julio Jones plans to sit out camp because he wants a new contract, according to reports from ESPN and NFL.com.

Jones has three years and more than $30 million left on his five-year, $71 million dollar contract with the Falcons.

He skipped the team’s mandatory off-season workouts seeking a new deal. Now, multiple outlets report he’ll sit out training camp.

But the Falcons have held firm. The team says it won’t rework Jones’ contract this year, mainly because resigning other players is their priority.

The Falcons signed quarterback Matt Ryan to a NFL-record $150 million extension earlier this year.

Players report to training camp at the team’s Flowery Branch facility Thursday. Practices start the next day and run until early August.

Atlanta’s first game of the regular season will be on the road against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6.