How Bears fans should feel about one key rookie's debut
There were plenty of positives to take away from the Chicago Bears’ 27-11 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the team’s second preseason outing. One player that stuck out for a few different reasons was the Bears’ third-round pick Velus Jones Jr. Making his preseason debut for Chicago, Jones’ night got off to a rocky […]
There were plenty of positives to take away from the Chicago Bears’ 27-11 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the team’s second preseason outing. One player that stuck out for a few different reasons was the Bears’ third-round pick Velus Jones Jr.
Making his preseason debut for Chicago, Jones’ night got off to a rocky start. The former Tennessee Volunteer fumbled the opening kickoff on his first touch as a pro, but luckily fell on top of the loose football.
Mistakes are going to happen in the preseason. Get it all out now.
Most rookies might let a mistake like that linger, but Jones is not like most rookies. At the age of 25, Jones displayed his maturity and was quickly able to flush the play from his memory.
Later in the first quarter, Jones was back deep for Chicago to field a Seahawks punt. After taking a few steps back Jones showed poise by catching the punt on the move, taking a brief moment to assess what was in front of him, then blazing down the sideline for a 48-yard return.
It’s clear to see why the Bears like Jones as a returner, but by drafting him in the third round Chicago would prefer to see more productivity from him as a receiver.
He was targeted twice in the passing game, finishing with one catch for four yards. The concerns with Jones’ route-running abilities were evident on a short route toward the sidelines as you can see below.
Quarterback Justin Fields will be relying upon Jones during the season as the Bears will be fielding one of the least talented receiver groups in the NFL. He will have an abundance of opportunities, but it’s clear there is still room to grow.
Overall, Bears fans should feel good about what they saw in Jones’ debut. He is going to be a weapon on special teams – that part we know. If he is able to add some nuance in his routes the Bears will see a sizable return on its investment.
Featured image via Joe Nicholson / USA TODAY Sports
