Velus Jones went unclaimed on waivers but looks to have found a landing spot. The Jaguars are expected to add the free agent wide receiver, The33rdTeam’s Ari Meirov tweets.
Jacksonville just lost Christian Kirk for the season and is expected to be without emerging rookie Brian Thomas Jr. for a bit. As a result, the recently cut Bears receiver/returner/recent running back will head to Duval County. This is a practice squad addition, per the team.
Never taking off with Chicago, Jones received his walking papers late last week. Best known for his return-game work, Jones caught just 12 passes with the Bears. An offseason running back experiment did not lead to a long runway, as the Bears moved on with 1 1/2 seasons remaining on his rookie contract. That deal has since wrapped, with no team claiming Jones on waivers.
Jones worked as the Bears’ primary kick returner as a rookie and again in 2023, averaging more than 27 yards per return in both seasons. Jones ranked seventh and fifth in kick-return yards in 2022 and ’23, respectively, with 607 and 435. The Bears did not make him their returner following this offseason’s radical change to the kickoff; Jones returned just one kick this season. He did not factored into the Bears’ punt-return mix prominently throughout his Windy City stay.
Rushing for a touchdown as a rookie, Jones only logged two carries following this Bears offensive staff’s effort to try him in the backfield. The Jaguars have a greater need at receiver, with Kirk suffering a broken collarbone in Week 8 and Thomas encountering a groin injury. Gabe Davis remains a healthy option among Jags starters, and the team also rosters second-year cog Parker Washington and fourth-year UDFA Tim Jones. But roster adjustments will be needed soon; Jones now represents part of that equation.
The Jaguars also signed offensive lineman Blake Hance from the practice squad to their 53-man roster and released running back Jake Funk from their P-squad.
It’s as good a place as any I guess. He can’t be any worse than he was here. At least I don’t think he can. But hey, I’ve been wrong before.
Pederson’s job is quickly sinking beneath the waves and this is what they throw him as a life preserver? That’s just cruel 🙂
If they threw it to Velus, he’d drop it
He needs to hug his agent lmao
Bears could have and should have drafted offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann in the 3rd Round drafted by the Colts at number 77 a couple of spots behind Jones. Jones without a doubt was a questionable pick when O Linemen were and are still needed.