4 Bears to Watch In Preseason Week 1 Against the Bills

2. Velus Jones Jr.

In a much different vein, Jones is making his own debut. In two years after being drafted 71st overall as a wide receiver out of Tennessee, he’s accumulated just 281 yards from scrimmage and is most known for his case of MPD (Muffed Punt Disease).

Still, a hair-trigger athlete who ran a 4.31 at the combine, Chicago has been looking for a way to rehabilitate the 27-year-old. This offseason, he’s been getting work in with the running backs. Eberflus confirmed that Jones will get some backfield run against Buffalo, making his big premiere at the new position.

There’s some proof of concept here, too. Jones has 17 rushing attempts for 154 yards in the last two seasons. 9.1 yards per carry! The volume obviously belies the underlying truth that those plays were novelties, but his speed is genuinely dangerous. Previously listed at 204 pounds, if he’s able to operate as a sparsely used one-cut breakaway threat, he could survive back there. You’re not running him out of the Wing T, but he could diversify the backfield skill sets and recoup some value (just not as a receiving back).

Seeing how Jones has acclimated to his new role will be fascinating. Cordarrelle Patterson is a former Bears’ success story on this transition, but he was also a former first-round pick and legendary kick-returner. Jones is neither and – if this doesn’t work – likely isn’t long for the roster.

But preseason is where hope springs eternal. If he is hitting holes with confidence and using that speed that got him drafted in the first place, a new gadget player may be born on Saturday.