The Atlanta Falcons are set to begin the 2018 season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, which has put the focus high on Julio Jones being ready to give it a go on Thursday night.

According to George Henry of The Associated Press, Jones has voiced that he will be playing in the season opener after sitting out the entire preseason last month.

“Q has the utmost respect for us and confidence in us that we’ll be ready to go,” Jones said Monday.

“He put it in our corner to come out here at practice and just go full speed and make it like game-time. Once you go out here and practice like that, the game will be easy for you.”

This shouldn't come as any surprise given that the Falcons had decided to go that route with Jones in order to preserve his health to play in the season opener, which was a plan of action that he fully supported the team taking with not only him but also star running back Devonta Freeman. The Falcons are counting on him being a major part of the offensive game plan this upcoming season as he has proven to be one of the top wide receivers in the league.

Jones is coming off a strong 2017 season where he recorded 88 catches for 1,444 receiving yards and three touchdowns, which marked the fourth straight year with at least 80 catches and 1,400 receiving yards. The 29-year-old should be heavily featured in the season opener as the Falcons look to get off on the right foot to begin the year with a win over the Eagles.

If Atlanta hopes to put together another campaign that leads to the playoffs, it will require Jones to once again be a big part of the offensive game plan. This should see an uptick in his involvement in the red zone as he only had three touchdowns last season.