Eagles sign Julio Jones: Alabama WR latest Crimson Tide player on Philadelphia roster
Former Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones became the latest name to join a lengthy list of Crimson Tide players to sign onto the Philadelphia Eagles roster.
Jones did not sign to a team in free agency after playing 10 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, accumulating 299 receiving yards and two touchdowns in that time. While he has not found the same success he had during his first 10 seasons as an Atlanta Falcon, Jones showed he still had some juice left in his NFL career.
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Jones is widely regarded as one of the best — and hardest to guard — wide receivers of all time, his 6-3 frame making him a matchup nightmare for many cornerbacks. While he will not see a bulk of the targets as he did in his prime years, Jones can still be an effective piece on a championship-caliber team.
Here's what you need to know about his signing with the Eagles, where he is already listed on the team's roster:
Julio Jones contract
While Jones has been confirmed to have signed with the Eagles on a reported one-year deal (via ESPN's Adam Schefter), Ian Rapoport of NFL.com later reported Jones actually has been signed to the 53-man practice squad with the intention of getting him up to speed to join the active roster shortly.
The #Eagles are actually signing Julio Jones to their practice squad, source said, though expect a quick elevation and/or signing to the 53-man roster when he gets up to speed. Most signings this time of year start on the PS to manage rosters. This is another example.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 17, 2023
Julio Jones age
Jones is currently 34 years old, and will turn 35 on Feb. 8, 2024. This marks his 13th NFL season.
Why did Julio Jones sign with Eagles?
Jones signed a one-year deal to the 5-1 Eagles uniform on Tuesday. The leaders of the NFC East are looking to bring in offensive reinforcements after totaling just 14 points in Week 6 against the New York Jets, ending their undefeated streak to open the season.
Jones will also be reunited with star wide receiver AJ Brown. The duo played for the Tennessee Titans in 2021 after Brown pushed for his organization to trade for Jones from the Atlanta Falcons. Jones will also be reunited with Eagles wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, both Falcons during the 2019-20 NFL seasons.
When did Julio Jones play for Alabama?
Jones spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa from 2008-10, amassing 15 touchdowns and 2,653 receiving yards. He was the first true freshman receiver to ever start a season opener for the Crimson Tide, pointing to coach Nick Saban's trust in the budding star, who was rewarded with SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
Jones aided the Crimson Tide in winning the 2009 BCS national championship before exploding in his junior season, further cementing his status as a first-round draft selection. In 2010, Jones was named to the First Team All-SEC as he nabbed 78 catches for 1,133 and seven touchdowns. He was drafted with the sixth pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
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Alabama players on Eagles roster
The Eagles now boast the highest number of rostered Alabama players, their total increasing to seven after Jones'
The Eagles now boast the highest number of rostered Alabama players, their total increasing to seven after Jones' signing.
Former Crimson Tide players now on the Eagles include Hurts (2016-2018), Landon Dickerson (2019-2020), Josh Jobe (2018-2021), Eli Ricks (2022), DeVonta Smith (2017-2020), Tyler Steen (2022), and Jones (2008-2010).
Julio Jones stats
The former Alabama receiver has been awarded with Pro Bowl honors seven times in his career and led the NFL in receiving yards in 2015 and 2018. The Eagles will be Jones' fourth team after spending his first ten seasons with the Falcons followed by one-season stints at Tennessee and Tampa Bay.
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Through 12 seasons, Jones racked up 13,629 receiving yards (16th all time) on 903 receptions and 63 touchdowns. Jones will now look to provide a veteran presence on an Eagles team that has championship aspirations after last season's Super Bowl.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Julio Jones joins long list of Alabama players on Philadelphia Eagles
