DECEMBER 10 • PANTHERS.COM
VELUS JONES JR. #28 - WIDE RECEIVER - CAROLINA PANTHERS
8 YDS •
1 REC •
0 TD
8 YDS
1 REC
0 TD
Jonathon Brooks placed on IR, Velus Jones Jr. added to roster The rookie running back was lost for the season to a torn ACL. The team added an experienced return option to the roster, plus other moves.
Poached by Carolina The Panthers are signing Jones off Jacksonville's practice squad Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Impact Jones, who was waived by Chicago in late October, now gets a spot on Carolina's 53-man roster due to injuries to Jonathan Brooks (knee - ACL) and Raheem Blackshear (chest). The 2022 third-round pick will be competing for reserve backfield opportunities and work in the return game with his new team.
DECEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE
Reverts to practice squad Jones reverted to the Jaguars' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Impact Jones was elevated to the Jaguars' active roster ahead of Sunday's loss to the Lions for the first time since joining Jacksonville's practice squad in late October. However, the 2022 third-round pick didn't play a single snap, despite being active. He's appeared in one game with the Bears this season, catching his only target for eight yards and carrying the ball twice for 11 yards.
NOVEMBER 18 • ROTOWIRE
Elevated by Jags for Week 11 The Jaguars elevated Jones from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
Impact Jones started the regular season on the Bears' active roster, but outside of Week 1, he was a healthy scratch before being waived Oct. 25. The 2022 third-round pick signed with Jacksonville's practice squad four days later, and he'll make his Jaguars' debut against the Lions on Sunday.
NOVEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE
Headed to Duval The Jaguars signed Jones to the practice squad Tuesday.
Impact Jones was waived by the Bears on Friday after being a healthy scratch in each of Chicago's last six regular-season games. The 2022 third-round pick will look to take advantage of his new opportunity with the Jaguars, who need additional depth at wide receiver after Christian Kirk fractured his collarbone during Sunday's loss to the Packers. With rookie wideout Brian Thomas (chest) considered day-to-day, Jones has a chance to be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against Philadelphia.
OCTOBER 29 • ROTOWIRE
Waived by Bears Chicago waived Jones on Friday.
Impact Jones played 16 snaps (four on offense, 12 on special teams) in Week 1 against the Titans, and he finished that contest with two carries for 11 yards and one catch for eight yards. He has been a healthy scratch across the Bears' last six games, however, and Chicago has opted to move on from the 2022 third-round pick. Assuming he clears waivers, Jones could stick around and sign with the Bears' practice squad or explore his options elsewhere.
OCTOBER 26 • ROTOWIRE
Remains healthy scratch Jones (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Panthers.
Impact Jones' streak of being inactive appeared to have a chance to end with DeAndre Carter dealing with a rib injury. However, with Carter suiting up, the Tennessee product will be sidelined once again.
OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Remains healthy scratch Jones (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Panthers.
Impact Jones' streak of being inactive appeared to have a chance to end with DeAndre Carter dealing with a rib injury. However, with Carter suiting up, the Tennessee product will be sidelined once again.
OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Not playing again Jones (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Rams.
Impact Jones has been a healthy scratch since suiting up Week 1 against the Titans. His next opportunity to play will be Week 5 against the Panthers.
SEPTEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE
Healthy scratch again Jones (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Colts.
Impact Jones was a healthy scratch in Week 2 as well, after suiting up for a minimal role in Week 1. He'll now work to have the opportunity to be on the field in Week 4 against the Rams.
SEPTEMBER 22 • ROTOWIRE
Inactive Sunday Jones (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday versus the Texans.
Impact Jones will spend Week 2 on the sidelines after having three touches in the team's 24-17 win over the Titans in Week 1. He'll now have to wait for his next opportunity to hit the field.
SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE
Three touches in victory Jones rushed twice for 11 yards while catching an eight yard pass in the Bears' 24-17 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Impact After an impressive preseason in which Jones was effective as a running back, Jones served in the committee with Khalil Herbert and Travis Homer behind starter D'Andre Swift. Although it appears that Jones may be in line to see snaps on offense, he may need to separate himself from the other backup running backs if he is going to have reliable fantasy value.
SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Bears Hilariously Botched NFL's New-Look Kickoff With Brutal Turnover Velus Jones was responsible for the gaffe against the Titans.
SEPTEMBER 8 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Should Browns Trade for Velus Jones Jr.? With Nick Chubb sidelined, a new trade proposal suggests the Browns target versatile playmaker Velus Jones Jr.
AUGUST 30 • SUNHERALD.COM
Velus Jones Jr. Survives Bears Cutdown to 53 Players The Bears roster is finalized but there can still be a few players moved around or waiver wire acquisitions coming on Wednesday.
AUGUST 27 • SI.COM
Stars as lead running back Jones rushed 13 times for 111 yards and a touchdown and secured both targets for 11 yards in the Bears' 34-21 preseason win over the Chiefs on Thursday night.
Impact Jones recorded a game-high yardage total on the ground with the help of a 39-yard scamper, seeing his most extensive action as a running back yet this preseason. The converted wide receiver appears to have acclimated nearly seamlessly to what now may be an official position change, but it's presently difficult to ascertain exactly how Jones may fit in a crowded running back room if he indeed makes the final roster. However, were one of Roschon Johnson or Khalil Herbert were to be traded before the start of the regular season, Jones could make for an intriguing change-of-pace back behind whichever of the two remains and lead back D'Andre Swift.
AUGUST 23 • ROTOWIRE
HIGHLIGHT: Velus Jones Jr.'s quick-twitch burst is palpable on 33-yard run Velus Jones Jr. runs off the left side for a 33-yard pickup.
AUGUST 23 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM
CAN'T-MISS HIGHLIGHT: Velus Jones Jr. zigs and zags for 39-yard rushing TD Bears receiver Velus Jones Jr., who has been auditioning at running back, uses his speed and cutback ability for a 39-yard touchdown.
AUGUST 23 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM
Impresses as running back Jones rushed six times for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' 33-6 preseason win over the Bills on Saturday.
Impact On August 6, coach Matt Eberflus vowed to experiment with Jones as a running back. Eberflus was true to his word, and Jones handled six carries with the reserves, including a 19-yard run and a short touchdown. The Bears invested a third-round pick on Jones in 2022, and aside from contributions on special teams, the team has gotten very little offensive production from him. It may be difficult for the third-year player to move into the top-three spots on the depth chart, but this showing certainly didn't hurt Jones' chances of seeing more work as a running back.
AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE
HIGHLIGHT: Velus Jones Jr. wins pylon race for 4-yard TD in first action at RB Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. runs it into the end zone from 4 yards out to give the Bears a 10-point lead.
AUGUST 10 • CHICAGOBEARS.COM
Velus Jones Jr. wins pylon race for 4-yard TD in first action at RB position
AUGUST 10 • YOUTUBE
Getting backfield reps Coach Matt Eberflus said Tuesday that the Bears will "experiment" with Jones at the running back position during and leading up to Saturday's road preseason game against the Bills,...
Impact Eberflus praised the "versatility of the talent and the skillsets that [Jones] offers our offense." The 2022 third-round pick has done worryingly little across two seasons with the Bears, with just four catches for 20 yards on seven targets, plus eight carries for 51 yards, across 14 regular-season games last year. It's possible that working out of the backfield can spark something for the 27-year-old, who may also benefit from the NFL's revised kick return rules this season. Still, it's difficult to imagine Jones earning consisted touches in a running back room that already houses D'Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson.
AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE
Velus Jones Jr. Facing Uphill Battle to Be Active Penalty and dropped pass have Velus Jones Jr. trying to impress simply to be active on game days.
NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Minimal usage in loss Jones caught one pass for four yards in the Bears' 30-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
Impact Jones has yet to play more than 12 percent of the offensive snaps in any game, and he has just 31 scrimmage yards on the season. His best value is in leagues that award points for return yardage, as Jones has been seeing increased use as a kickoff returner since Week 6.
OCTOBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Bears receiver Velus Jones Jr. shoulders blame for dropped touchdown pass: "It's real devastating"
Velus Jones Jr.'s dropped touchdown pass was probably the lowest point of yet another rough game for the Chicago BearsOCTOBER 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
