Titans plan to release Jones

NASHVILLE — A person familiar with the move said the Tennessee Titans will release seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones to clear salary cap space.

Jones will be designated as a post-June 1 release, with the Titans carrying the cap hit until that date. That’s according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced. ESPN first reported the move.

The Titans added Jones last June in a trade that gave the Atlanta Falcons salary cap space. Tennessee needed another top wide receiver to pair with A.J. Brown, but Jones started only 11 games, including the Titans’ lone playoff game, a home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round. Jones finished with a career-low 31 catches for 434 yards and one touchdown last season, but that ranked fourth in catches and third in yards for the Titans. Jones’ touchdown catch was in the regular-season finale.

Jones, 33, would be the fifth player to be released by the Titans, who had to create space before the new league year started Wednesday to keep outside linebacker Harold Landry and center Ben Jones off the free agent market.

Those deals are cap-friendly, costing the Titans only $8.4 million this season. Spotrac. com estimated the Titans with $720,675 of cap space. Tennessee still need to upgrade its wide receivers roup and find a No. 1 tight end, among other needs.

Brown thanked Jones in a post on social media for teaching him a lot in a short period of time and said he was grateful to be a part of the veteran’s journey.

“You’re the reason why I started to begin to play this game,” Brown wrote. “HOF receiver is what you are and what I strive to be one day. Thank you, I’ll take it from here! Salute!”