Report: Julio Jones teams up with Tom Brady, signing with Bucs
Julio Jones is signing a one-year deal to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Terms of the deal weren't initially reported.
The seven-time Pro Bowl receiver joins his second team since leaving the Atlanta Falcons after a single season last year with the Tennessee Titans. He'll team up with Tom Brady in pursuit of his first Super Bowl championship.
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Jones joins the Bucs as leading receiver Chris Godwin continues to recover from an ACL and MCL tear sustained in Week 15 last season. Godwin underwent surgery to repair the damage on Jan. 3. He's been cleared for training camp activity and will avoid a trip to the PUP list, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. It's not clear when he'll return to the lineup.
Jones, 33, was one of the league's most dangerous offensive weapons in his Falcons prime. Age and injuries have slowed him in recent seasons. He was limited to 31 catches for 434 yards and a single touchdown in 10 games with Tennessee in 2021. He tallied 51 catches for 771 yards and three touchdowns across nine games during his final season with the Falcons in 2020.
At 6-3 and 220 pounds, Jones remains an imposing cover for defensive backs and a reliable target when healthy. He joins a Bucs receiving corp featuring four-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans, Russell Gage and Godwin when he returns. The Bucs are also seeking to fill the receiving void left by the retirement of tight end Rob Gronkowski — if, indeed, he remains retired.
