Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones has been dealing with a serious family issue over the past few days.
On Monday, according to Baldwin County (Ala.) Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack, four relatives of Jones were shot in a weekend incident at an Alabama trailer park.
According to law enforcement officials in Baldwin County, all four men were treated for gunshot wounds at a local hospital, and one remains in critical condition.
According to Sheriff Mack, Tamarius Dickerson, Jermain Dickerson and Royald Jones traveled to the Magnolia Springs residence of Jahlen Baker and confronted him at gunpoint.
Citing AL.com, Baker was shot in the abdomen during the violent encounter, while the other three relatives were injured after Baker's unidentified roommate returned fire.
The Dickerson brothers are either cousins or nephews to Julio Jones, according to Sheriff Mack; Baker is a half-brother to the Dickersons.
The incident and subsequent police report may be connected to Jones' abrupt exit from postgame interviews on Sunday (after the Falcons' home loss to the Cowboys), citing a family emergency after taking a call from his mother, Queen Marvin.
Jones, a Foley, Alabama native and three-year star at the University of Alabama (2008-10), was asked about the matter before practice on Tuesday.
"That's family matters," Jones said to a Falcons beat writer. "This is football. That's private."
The 4-6 Falcons have a Thanksgiving Night clash with the Saints in New Orleans. If feasible, Jones might have time to make the two-hour drive to Baldwin County before or after the game.
For the season, Jones leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,157) and has a seasonal pace of 1,856 … which would fall 15 yards short of his personal-best tally from 2015.