Velus

Jones Jr.

Jones Jr. was waived last Saturday by the Bears and finds a new home in Jacksonville. The former third-round pick had just two rushing attempts with the Bears this year, and is sitting on 22 career targets and 19 career rushes. The Jaguars haven’t exactly been the team that has generated open area for their offensive players in space this year, but perhaps Jones Jr. just needed a fresh slate.

The third-year, 27-year-old player has a chance to begin anew. Jones switched from wide receiver to running back this offseason in an attempt to retain a roster spot. After eight weeks, the experiment has concluded. Jones will likely land with another team quickly. His 4.31-second 40-yard dash speed remains usable on special teams. The Bears also released FB Khari Blasingame.

Jones headlines the Bears’ offensive inactives as a healthy scratch for the third straight week. Keenan Allen and Kevin Byard are active despite entering the day questionable while Zacch Pickens (groin) is the most notable defensive inactive for Week 4 against the Rams.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said of Jones, entering his third NFL season at 27 years old. “He’s open to moving around, again, like we talked about, I think it was maybe last time we visited about, you know, if you’re on the fringe of the roster or a guy that is competing for that fifth, sixth spot at receiver, halfback, whatever it might be, the more you can do.” In 26 NFL games since the start of the 2022 season, Jones has 17 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown and 11 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown. He remains a long shot to make the final Bears roster.

Jones continued special teams duties in Week 18, similar to his season-long role. He finishes 2023 with four receptions for 20 yards, adding eight carries for 51 yards. Jones was not on the field with the offense often, but when he was, he was used as a gadget player. The 26-year-old wraps up his second year as a special teamer, splitting return opportunities with Trent Taylor and rookie Tyler Scott. Jones is not on the fantasy radar for 2024.

Jones was on the roster bubble heading into camp, but managed to stick hold a spot after roster cutdown day. Still, the former third-round pick doesn’t appear to have a role on offense or special teams to open the season. Quarterback Nathan Peterman will backup Justin Fields with Bagent inactive.

As Fishbain notes in his article, Jones won’t be earning a lot of reps at wide receiver with D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, and Chase Claypool looking like the top-three options. The team also values Equanimeous St. Brown’s run blocking and added rookie Tyler Scott in the fourth round of this year’s draft. Fishbain suggests Jones could be in competition with veteran Dante Pettis for the final roster spot -- assuming the Bears break camp with six receivers. Jones proved his value as a kick return last season, but it was Pettis who handled punt return duties while also showing some chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields. Jones, who the Bears selected in the third round of last year’s draft, finished the season with seven receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown, while running just 71 routes for a team already thin at receiver. Barring injuries, Jones could be in for an uphill battle to earn a roster spot this offseason. It should go without saying, but he’s also well off the fantasy radar.

The aged rookie also returned a punt for a touchdown in a game the Bears tried to lose to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jones ends his rookie season with seven receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown, along with eight rushing attempts for 61 yards. The Bears clearly see Jones not as an every-down wideout but as a gadget player and kick returner. He’s a long way from fantasy revalance.

Jones, a little-used rookie, made the biggest play of the game for Chicago with a 44-yard grab down the sideline in the third quarter. Running 19 pass routes on Justin Fields’ 33 drop backs, Jones saw a major increase in playing time with Chase Claypool (knee) and Equanimious St. Brown (concussion) out. Jones should remain on waiver wires in Week 17.

The third-round rookie was a healthy scratch in Week 10 but returns for what fantasy players are hoping is a high-scoring matchup. Inactive for the Bears are WR N’Keal Harry, CB Lamar Jackson, CB Justin Layne, DB Dane Cruikshank, OG Ja’Tyre Carter and OL Alex Leatherwood.