Bears HC is giving one player a second chance to earn starting job
Velus Jones Jr. had a rookie season to forget after being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Chicago Bears. The wide receiver/return specialist experienced plenty of growing pains that leave his role with the team in question heading into the 2023 season. Jones muffed two crucial punts last season, which […]
Velus Jones Jr. had a rookie season to forget after being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Chicago Bears. The wide receiver/return specialist experienced plenty of growing pains that leave his role with the team in question heading into the 2023 season.
Jones muffed two crucial punts last season, which resulted in the Tennessee product being a healthy scratch for two games. However the 26-year-old is receiving a second chance in year two.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was highly irritated in Jones’ lack of ball security in his rookie season. On top of the two muffed punts, Jones also fumbled a carry inside opponents territory in last year’s showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bears are hoping those issues are a thing of the past as Jones will be competing with Dante Pettis among others for roles in the return game.
“Just the experience,” Eberflus said on what should help Jones improve a second time around. “Him knowing what to do, how to do it, he's more consistent that way. His work ethic has always been good. He's continued to do that and he's been working on catching the punt, which is really good. He’s gonna be a big part for us if he can really work that and be consistent going through camp and show that he can do that on a full-time basis. So we're excited where that is.”
To his credit, Jones did show flashes of promise as a receiver down the stretch, but in a much more talented room playing time won’t be as easy to come by this season.
The easiest way to make an early impact will be through the return game. If ball security gets cleaned up, then he will have an opportunity to showcase his rare speed, which is what the Bears drafted him for in the first place.
There isn’t much room for error heading into training camp, so Jones must prove that he is capable of becoming somebody the Bears can trust in a full-time capacity.
Featured image via Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
