Two years into his NFL career, Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. has done next to nothing on offense, but he has shown some promise as a kickoff returner. And the new kickoff rule could help Jones secure a roster spot this season.
Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said Jones looked very good working with the new kickoff return rule in the offseason, and Hightower hopes Jones establishes himself as a special teams weapon.
“A guy like Velus Jones is a great example,” Hightower said. “A guy like that with the type of skill set, with the speed and power that he has, and he’s coming full speed ahead at you. It’s like a damn freight train running at you and he’s going to get an opportunity to touch the ball three or four more times a game, and we all know he’s a very dynamic player with the ball in his hands. But this new rule, because of the landing zone, because of the league incentivizing returns, it’s only going to have a really good effect for our whole return team but for a guy like that to really change the game.”
The Bears took Jones with a third-round pick in 2022, and he has managed just 11 catchers so far in his NFL career. That’s not what they were hoping for. But as a former SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, Jones has undeniable talent as a return man. The new rule may give new life to his career.