Team mum as Jones skips first day of OTAs

Falcons All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones did not attend the first session of the team’s organized team activities on Monday, according to a source with knowledge of the attendees. The team would not comment on his absence and said that coach Dan Quinn would address the situation today during his regularly scheduled avail- ability session.

The team would not comment on reports that Jones wants an “updated” contract. Calls, text and emails to Jones’ agent Jimmy Sexton were not immediately returned.

Jones has never had a contract dispute with the team, which recently signed quar- terback Matt Ryan to a five- year, $150 million contract extension. Back in 2015, when Jones’ contract was extended he said, “I’m not going to hold out.”

Jones didn’t practice last offseason after undergoing foot surgery and is reportedly following the same OTA practice schedule — once a week — that Roddy White followed later in his career. Jones has been working out in Alabama and Atlanta.

Ryan, who as of mid-April hadn’t worked out with Jones, was hoping that Jones would be able to fully participate.

“It’s huge when you get any player to be able to participate fully,” Ryan said recently. “That’s critical. But you never know, the off- season and seasons are dif- ferent every year. I think he came through the year, but I don’t want to speak for him, but he came through the year fairly healthy.”

At the NFL owners meet- ing in March, Quinn thought Jones would fully work in the offseason program and discussed the important of practice for all of the players. He noted last season that the passing game suffered because Jones and speedster Taylor Gabriel could not practice for all of the offseason. Gabriel was not re-signed.

He was excited as he thought that Jones would take part in the offseason program, OTAs and minicamp.

“The chemistry that takes place between receivers, running backs, coaches, everybody, it’s important,” Quinn

said. “So, we are excited for guys like Julio who’ll be able to work this spring and get that timing with him and

Matt just right.”

The OTAs are voluntary. The team’s mandatory minicamp is set for June 12-14.