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Tennessee Titans plan to release WR Julio Jones

4:12 pm ET

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    • Covered Eagles for USA Today
    • Covered the ravens for the Baltimore Times
    • Played American football at Cheney University.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee. The Tennessee Titans are planning to release wide receiver Giulio Jones, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini on Wednesday.

Jones was signed for the 2024 season. It is likely that he will be released with an appointment after June 1, giving the Titans $9.5 million in savings on the pay cap.

The Titans acquired Jones last year along with a 2023 sixth-round pick from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick. This move was to provide much-needed balance to Tennessee’s passing attack.

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Jones, however, appeared in just 10 games with injuries and had a career low of 31 receptions for 434 yards and just one touchdown reception.

“It looks like we’ve been heading in the right direction, but we’ve had some setbacks along the way,” Titans general manager John Robinson told NFL scouting. “Unfortunately, he wasn’t there enough to make an impact week after week. When he was there, he helped our football team. It’s a balance you’re always working on when players’ careers start to lengthen a bit. You see some things and wonder if this was an isolated incident or if it will happen again.”

This was the second season in a row that Jones was sidelined with an injury. In 2020, he appeared in just nine games for the Falcons.

The Titans will now have AJ Brown and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as top receivers in their depth chart following the release of Jones.

Brown paid tribute to Jones Wednesday, tweet: “You taught me a lot in a short amount of time. I am grateful that I did not participate in your journey. You are the reason I started playing this game. The HOF receiver is what you are and what I aspire to be one day. Thanks, I’ll take it from here! Salute!”

The Falcons selected Jones sixth overall in 2011, sending several picks to Cleveland to be in Alabama’s MVP. Atlanta, when moving on to acquire Jones, traded their 2011 first round pick (26th overall), their second round pick, two fourth round picks, and their 2012 first round pick.

Jones, 33, leads the Falcons in catches (848) and yards (12,896) and trails Roddy White in touchdown receptions (63). His 91.9 receiving yards per game is the best in NFL history.