Where Charlie Jones' first career touchdown stacks up in Bengals history
Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver made his first NFL home game count by taking a punt return back 81 yards to the house against the Baltimore Ravens. The six points he produced was a helpful spark to keep the Bengals in the game, and it also added his name to the franchise record books. Jones […]
Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver made his first NFL home game count by taking a punt return back 81 yards to the house against the Baltimore Ravens. The six points he produced was a helpful spark to keep the Bengals in the game, and it also added his name to the franchise record books.
Jones ran in the 17th punt return for a touchdown in Bengals history, the first since Adam "Pacman" Jones from Week 2 of the 2012 season. That Jones also took it back 81 yards against a divisional opponent at home.
81 yards to the house brings "Chuck Sizzle" to a tie with Jones and Craig Yeast for the sixth-longest punt return score in team history.
In terms of recent history around the league, Jones' touchdown return is the seventh-longest in the 2020s decade. The only rookie who took it back from further was Marcus Jones of the New England Patriots, who scored from 84 yards out during the 2022 season.
On top of all this, it's the first time the Bengals' first touchdown of the season was from a punt return, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. Considering it happened in the second quarter of Week 2, it was very much needed.
The Bengals picked Jones in the fourth round of this year's NFL Draft to make plays just like this. His return capabilities mattered just as much as his capabilities receiving the ball on offense, and early returns are looking very promising.
Bengals rookie Charlie Jones takes punt 81 yards to the house
The rookie is already making an impact.
Featured image via © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
