Velus Jones was on the list in 2023 and didn’t “prove it” but will the new kick-off rule breathe some new life Jones?
When we look back at our 2023 list of the 10 Chicago Bears with the most to prove, we saw Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor. Johnson proved it and received an extension. Vildor didn’t make it out of preseason. We had Trevis Gipson who didn’t prove it and was cut. Three offensive linemen were on the list: Teven Jenkins (made huge strides), Braxton Jones (middling season put him back on the list), and Cody Whitehair (poor season, released). We had Justin Fields (traded) and three wide receivers: Chase Claypool (traded), Darnell Mooney (left via FA), and Velus Jones (didn’t prove anything).
Most players either stepped up and remained with the team, or had a rough season and either didn’t make it through 2023 or are no longer with the team for 2024.
One player who didn’t step up and is still here is number eight on our list: Velus Jones, Jr.
After a rough rookie season, Velus made the most-to-prove list in 2023 because it looked like another disappointing season could potentially end Jones’ time in Chicago.
Jones’ total yards from scrimmage in 2023 was just 71 yards, down from 210 in 2022. Jones did not return punts in 2023 after struggling in that department in 2022 but he did stay on kick return duties where he posted another season of having over 27 yards per return.
Of returners with 10 or more kick returns, Jones had the second-highest return average in the league. Special Teams Coordinator Richard Hightower has also sung Velus’ praises as a kick returner calling him one of the best in the league.
The ship seems to have mostly sailed on Jones as a contributor on offense. He has struggled mightily to find a role for himself. Perhaps new OC Shane Waldron can figure out a better way to utilize Jones offensively, but that’s not something anyone should expect.
Being a kick returner only certainly isn’t a reason to keep a player on a roster, and that’s what Jones appears to be reduced to heading into 2024, but one thing has changed that may breathe new life into Velus Jones this season: the new kickoff rule.
Jones had just 22 returns in 2022 and that number fell to 16 in 2023. But in 2024, the NFL is expecting a huge increase in returns thanks to the new rule. The Bears have already mentioned how they feel Jones could thrive as a kick returner under these new rules.
Kick returns will become a critical play in 2024 after being an afterthought in 2023. Will that increased importance of the kick return be enough to keep Velus Jones on the roster? It would appear that there’s an excellent chance that could be the case.
Jones will have to fight for a roster spot. Players like Khalil Herbert, DeAndre Carter, and Roschon Johnson could have value as kick returners, but that will be up to Hightower and the rest of the coaching staff to figure out which players have the best skillsets as kick returners to utilize this season.
If Jones only holds value to the 2024 team as a kick returner, that may be enough and if he does well in the role, he could prove himself to be a valuable asset. This is a huge training camp, preseason and regular season for Jones. If he struggles before the season, he won’t make the final 53-man roster. If he struggles during the season, he certainly won’t be back in 2025.
Last year seemed like Jones’ last chance, but thanks to the new rule, he has one more opportunity in 2024 to prove that he is a valuable asset to the Bears and worth keeping on the roster moving forward.
Copyright © 2024
Leave a Reply