Julio Jones has been waiting several months for a new deal, and he appears to be growing impatient.
The Falcons receiver began his bizarre media availability Thursday by saying everything is going great concerning contract negotiations, then insisted he "doesn't know" if he'll play Sunday against the Vikings if he doesn't have a new deal before declaring he does want to be on the field.
Julio Jones on his contract situation and being slowed today because he was sore from turf. pic.twitter.com/tcookJ3IUO
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) September 5, 2019
Julio Jones says it’s fair to say he plans to play on Sunday: pic.twitter.com/mzDUNa8Iyf
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) September 5, 2019
Jones also noted some soreness he dealt with during practice, but said he's focused and ready for action.
"I don't know. I mean, like, what I'm trying to do right now is be ready," Jones said when asked if he would "definitely" play. "If I'm gonna play, if I'm not gonna play, I'm trying to be out there regardless. Coming back from injury and things like that. But the ultimate thing is just being ready when my number is called."
Jones, who is set to earn $9.6 million in 2019, has two years left on the five-year deal worth $71 million he signed in 2015, but the expectation has long been that he will have a new contract in place before Atlanta opens the regular season.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank assured this week that the team is "very, very close” to finalizing a deal with Jones.
"I’d be surprised and disappointed if we didn’t get it done this week. ... I think it’s very reasonable to assume it will get done this week," Blank said.
Jones, 30, had 113 catches for a league-leading 1,677 receiving yards to go with eight touchdowns last season.