Philadelphia Eagles WR Julio Jones: 'I'm Here to Dominate'
PHILADELPHIA – Julio Jones raised an eyebrow, his face contorting into an incredulous look, when the obvious question of how much he has left was lobbed in his direction from a reporter packed around Jones’ stall in the Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room.
“You just keep watching,” he said on Wednesday as his new team prepares to host the Miami Dolphins in what could be a preview of Super Bowl LVIII. “I ain’t going to make no expectations. Just keep watching, and we’ll revisit this.”
Jones isn’t just an anybody-receiver. He’s a Hall of Fame pass-catcher, one who, albeit is 34 now and has battled a spate of hamstring injuries the last couple of seasons.
Physically, he’s a question mark after the Eagles signed him to their practice squad on Tuesday.
Mentally, he’s raring to go.
“My mindset is definitely to dominate,” he said. “Don’t get it twisted. I’m here to dominate. But I’m saying … wherever they need me to go and be, I’m going to do that to the best of my ability.”
Jones could, and probably should, be ready to go on Sunday night in primetime. What is role will look like, well, Nick Sirianni gave a glimpse on Wednesday.
Julio Jones talks to reporters after signing to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad prior to Week 7.
Ed Kracz/SI Fan Nation Eagles Today
“You're still coming out here and going to see more and more each time you see him out on the field,” said Sirianni when asked the difference between Jones now and his Hall of Fame-carved days of 2015 and 2016. “Obviously, he's older from that time, but still has the ability to make plays. Make no mistake about it, though. This pass game still is going to go through DeVonta (Smith), A.J. (Brown), and Dallas (Goedert).
“So, I think that's a little bit of a difference, right, the role he's playing, right? More of a supporting role than a highlighted role and we'll see how it continues to shape up. But we still know he has the ability to make plays and we're going to need him to make plays.”
Added Jones: "The biggest thing for me is to go out there and learn as much as I can right now. The team needs me to fit in, and I’m willing to do it. I’m a veteran. I can move around, whatever the case may be.
Jones’ signing isn’t unlike last year when GM Howie Roseman brought in defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh back-to-back days after the Eagles’ first loss on Nov. 14.
This year, they suffered their first setback last week against the New York Jets after winning five straight to open the season.
“I definitely had opportunities (to sign elsewhere),” said Jones, “but, I mean, the right opportunity and things that made sense. Like I said, Philly is an amazing place. The people here, the fans here, everything.”
Jones talked about a wild sports night in the South Philly sports complex, where every parking space available, all 126,000-plus was filled due to a friendly soccer match between Mexico and Germany at Lincoln Financial Field, the Phillies hosting Game 2 of the NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Philadelphia Flyers celebrating their home opener against the Vancouver Canucks.
“It was packed,” he said. “I stay like seven minutes from here, and it took like 20-30 minutes just to go like a mile and a half down the road. It was crazy. Philly does a great job with their fan base coming out and supporting their ballclubs and their sports.
Wait until he sees the outpouring of fans for Sunday night’s game when the Eagles will wear their throwback Kelly green jerseys and helmets.
“It’s definitely going to be wild,” he said, “but I’ve been playing this game for a long time. I’m going to take it in before the game and after the game. During the game, I’ve got to do my job.”
