In recent Chicago Bears history, it's hard to find a player Bears fans were more frustrated with than Velus Jones Jr. Coming into the league as a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Jones boasted elite speed and athleticism, running an impressive 4.31 in the 40-yard dash. Thanks to his raw tools, he continued to get more chances in Chicago than he probably deserved, much to the frustration of the fanbase and the organization.
Since the Bears had so much invested in Jones for a long time, his post-Bears career has been closely followed by the fans. Unsurprisingly, things haven't improved much since the 28-year-old's departure from Chicago. Over the last year, he has bounced around, spending time between the Jaguars, Panthers, and the Saints, but not making much of an impact. This resulted in his release by the Saints earlier this week. However, the host of Locked On Saints, Ross Jackson, reported on Thursday that Jones was returning to the Saints' practice squad.
Disappointing Former Bears WR Velus Jones Continues to Get NFL Opportunities
Starting the 2025 campaign in New Orleans, Jones wasn't able to get many opportunities in the offense, only seeing two snaps. On special teams, however, Jones had a large role, returning eight kickoffs. He wasn't able to do much with those chances, averaging a measly 22.9 yards per return, and never going for more than 30 yards in a return.
For a player who claimed to be the fastest player on the team before the season, that is simply not good enough.
Bears fans are all too familiar with Jones' struggles in the return game. He had two costly muffs as a punt returner as a rookie, in addition to his three fumbles on offense. For a player who had 16 touches all season, that is an unacceptable number.
To accommodate Jones after his struggles, the Bears converted him into a running back before the 2024 season. It was even reported that GM Ryan Poles refused significant trade offers for Jones that summer with the hope that the switch would revive Jones' career. This only lasted until the season opener, where Jones muffed a kickoff and kicked it towards the Titans for a turnover. This was the last snap Jones would see in a Bears uniform, leading to his release a few weeks later.
Jones' inability to take advantage of his opportunities seems to be continuing. The fact that he wasn't able to crack the offensive rotation for a Saints team that ranks 27th in offense is not a good sign for the former Bear's future NFL prospects. He is going to have to wait for his turn on the practice squad, but when he will get a chance to get on the field next remains to be seen.